Speak
By Laurie Halse Anderson
224p
Puffin
ISBN-10: 0142407321
ISBN-13: 978-0142407325
Annotation:
A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.
Summary:
Perhaps one of the most compelling and haunting young adult novels ever written. Due to mysterious event that occurred near the end of summer Melinda is finding it harder and harder to speak. At times she complains that her throat hurts, or that her lips are sore, until she practically becomes mute. She has become sullen and withdrawn, her parent are always working and all of her friends have abandoned her, her only ally is the art teacher. Through his makeshift assignments Melinda slowly begins to lower her shields but will it be quick enough or will her silence be her death.
This novel as a level of depth that has withstood the test of time, told with a style that was unlike any other Anderson has created a work that will astonish teenagers, and adults alike. It is only after Melinda reveals all that had occurred at the end of summer bash can we as readers truly appreciate the depth of her revelation. Quite simply this is a novel about the abuses a teenage can suffer through and more importantly the ones they can inflict on themselves.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Speak
Twilight
Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer
544p
Little, Brown Young Readers
ISBN-13: 978-0316015844
Annotation:
When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.
Summary:
Perhaps one of the most popular young adult series in recent times, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight is single handedly bringing back the vampire novel. In this gripping romance seventeen year old Isabella Swan has just moved from sunny Phoenix, AZ to the rainy day capital of Forks, WA. Lets just say the weather is about the only thing she is fond of in Forks.
Bella quickly makes friends even though she is tragically uncoordinated and meets a mysterious student by the name of Edward Cullen. Her heartrate quickens and leaves her with one question , what is the secret about the Cullen Family. And so begins the Twilight Series.Meyers has made a franchise of the vampire story, Twilight has now become a cultural boom, with movies and action figures in the works. This story has found an audience in the young and old, all are in awe of the relationship of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.
Perhaps not one of the literary masterpieces, Twilight has found a comfortable home amound the fluff and will be entertaining readers for years to come.
Th1rteen R3asons Why
13 Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
320 p
Razorbill
ISBN-13: 978-1595141712
Annotation When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.
Summary
Truly one of the most gut wrenching and difficult stories to read in a long time. Clay Jenkins is a nice guy, a good guy. So why did he just recieve a box of cassette tapes from a dead classmate and more importantly why is he one of the reasons why she killed herself, and what can he do about it now?
These are but a few of the questions our protagonist must ask himself over the course of one night. As he travels around town, emersing himself in the life of Hannah Baker going places she went, listening to the experiences that caused her to take her own life is almost more that he can bare. Follow Clay as he tries to make ammends for whatever horrible deed he did and share in the torment as he tries to deal.
This novel is not for the squeamish. 13 Reasons Why shows the audience the importance of humanity is at the forefront of this novel. Hannah, Clay and all the other people on the tapes share a commonality and a bond that will never be broken. This novel illuminates the affect of small gestures and big embarrassments can have on a high school student. Sure to keep you up pondering all the subtleties for night.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac
Gabrielle Zevin
271p.
Publisher Farrar, Straus & Giroux
- ISBN-10: 0312561288
- ISBN-13: 978-0312561284
This touching sophomore novel, by the author of Elsewhere (2005), touches on the sensitivities and humors of everyday life.
Naomi accidentally hits her head and loses all her memories from the present to sixth grade. Imagine all the traumatic events of the last five years, having to be rediscovered in a few days. Things like rediscovering your parents are divorced or birth control devices in your bedside table take on a complete new level of emotionality. Naomi allows us to experience these events at a comfortable and safe distance as a reader. Through her journey she is able to learn more about herself and the people in her life as well as find love. Until her memories come flooding back.
What does this mean for all the meaningful friendships she has made during her time as an amnesiac, and more importantly what does it mean for her and her fellow amnesiac boyfriend?
This novel is a humorous and guilty pleasure that still has the ability to affect the reader. This novel is perfect for those readers looking for something with substance yet still a fun read.
The Brothers Torres
The Brothers Torres
By: Coert Vorhees
316p
Hyperion
ISBN-13: 978-0312428167
Annotation:
Sophomore Frankie finally finds the courage to ask his long-term friend, Julianne, to the Homecoming dance, which ultimately leads to a face-off between a tough senior whose family owns most of their small, New Mexico town, and Frankie's soccer-star older brother and his gang member friends.
Summary:
In one year Frankie Towers is making big changes. After living for years in his brother the soccer star's shadow, Frankie is finally beginning to make a name for himself.
Frankie has just asked the most popular girl in school to the homecoming dance, the only problem is that he just beat the wealthiest and most influential high school senior at their New Mexico high school. In addition, Frankie is far from being considered popular in fact many of the people in school would consider him to be a "nerd".
This novel is the perfect combination of humor and the occasional serious situation. Frankie has to balance the expectations of his family and their ideas of what a true man is, with the man he wants to become. A feeling that many teenagers can relate to.
Students will instanly see the parallels between Frankie and his brother Steve the college bound sibling who spends all of his time with the local cholo gang, and grow to feel for the difficult situation that he is in. Frankie, however never loses his voice and will fight to gain the respect of his family and his friends. Traits that alll teenagers can appreciate.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Just Listen
Just Listen
p.400
Puffin
ISBN-13: 978-0142410974
Isolated from friends who believe the worst because she has not been truthful with them, sixteen-year-old Annabel finds an ally in classmate Owen, whose honesty and passion for music help her to face and share what really happened at the end-of-the-year party that changed her life.
Summary:
What could be worse that being caught by all of your friends, with your best friend's boyfriend?
That is exactly what Annabel is asking. Gone is her popularity and her friends, she has accepted a self sentence of social exile, because she can never admit what really happened in that closet.
Annabelle is a nice girl. She is so nice that she is willing to do nearly anything for anyone to keep them happy, even if that means she has to suffer by being the doormat toher friends and family. Until one day when she is she and her best friend Sophie have a falling out and her world comes crashing down. Annabelle is shunned by nearlyeveryone, everyone except for Owen. Owen is a likeable guy who also happens to be a nut for alternative music, knows something isn’t right. As Annabelle begins to come more and more withdrawn and unwilling to speak up, the perfect life she once had is starting to crack at the seams. The only person willing to speak to her is Owen, but can she trust him?
Teens who love novels by author Laurie Halse Anderson will instantly be drawn into the drama that is Just Listen. Beautifully written, this novel will leave you haunted by hungry for more.
Nick and Norah...
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
By: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
208p
Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 978-0375846144
Annotation:
High school student Nick O'Leary, member of a rock band, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg and asks her to be his girlfriend for five minutes in order to avoid his ex-sweetheart.
Summary:
When shy quiet recently single Nick glances at the headstrong and also recently single Nora across a bar in which they are both too young to be in, he realizes that she is his only chance to find a girl that will impress his beautiful and stuck-up ex-girlfriend Tris in time. He convinces Nora to be his girlfriend for the “next five minutes” and what happens next? You’ll have to read and find out.
This novel is filled with adventure and humor, and will sure to keep even the most reluctant of readers thoroughly entertained. Teens will fall in love with Nick and his attempts to do what is right even when things are not going his way.
Cohn creates a novel surrounding one night filled with wild antics, sexual frustration and of course lots of rockin’ music. A night in which two teens discover and explore the lives they have known and the future itself. This novel is filled with tons of music tidbits from heavy metal and punk bands to those oldies-but-goodies we know and love, perfect for the true music fan.
Strong Language is throughout this great teen novel, so readers beware.
