The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexi, S., & Forney, E. (2009). The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Arnold Spirit Jr. is a young fourteen year old Native American boy that depicts Alexi's life when he grew up in the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, WA. He is a hydrocephalic and is constantly beaten in his reservation. While attending school, he noticed that his Geometry book had his mother's name and got very upset and threw a book to his teacher. Consequently,  he has to go to another school outside the reservation, Reardan High School. The student population was mostly whites, so Arnold not only dealt with "betraying his reservation by going to an outside school", but also had to endure the mistreatment of his classmates. His parents were both alcoholics and his sister was very reserved, and his only friend, Rowdy,  was abused by his father. He meets Penelope, an anorexic blonde girl, and forms a special bond with her. During his time at the high school, he was able to stand up the jockey, Roger. As he tries to fit in, he joins the basketball team and his first match was with his old school. Poor Arnold, he was booed and his reservation friend hits him unconscious. As tragic hits him with his grandmother and sister's death. All he can do is hope for a better life.

Arnold was very courageous to endure all the mistreatment and offenses from his classmates and his reservation. He was very persistent and always kept in mind that he wanted to be a better person and have a better life. The adolescent protagonist goes through many emotions and his character evolves through out the book. The settings in the book, separated the character into two different lives.


Book Recommendations by the same author:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
Flight
Reservation Blues


Author's Websites:

http://fallsapart.com/
https://ellenforney.com/

http://www.slimekids.com/book-trailers/letter-a/the-absolutely-true-diary.html

Teacher's Guide
Teacher's Guide 2
Reader's Theater
Vocabulary List

Odyssey Award 2009
American Indian Youth Literature Award 2008
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2008
National Book Award for Young People's Literature 2007

Grasshopper Jungle

Smith,  A. (2015). Grasshopper Jungle. New York, NY: Speak, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC

Austin and his friend Robby were beaten up in an area they call "Grasshopper Jungle" in Ealing, IA. The known aggressors are Grant Wallance and his gang, who stole their skateboards and threw both Austin and Robby's shoes on top of the mall's roof. Consequently, the boys go up the roof in hopes to find their shoes. Event that would surprisingly change their lives. As they are in the roof top, they notice one of the hatches open. It happened to be the "From Attic to seller Consignment Store", Austin's work place. Curiosity is what let them into the business. In there, they were startled when Wallace and the gang also were in the store. They took a mysterious item labeled "MI Plague Strain 412E", which reacts with Robby's blood that was left behind after his beating. All of a sudden, Wallance and his gang turn in giant praying mantises. Soon after, they found a hidden message in Shann's house, which leads them to a safe silo. The bunker is known as Eden and was constructed in the 1970's by Mckeon Industries. It served as an experimental lab to create unstoppable soldiers. They find out that Robby's blood was the secret to get rid of them. Which in turn, fill up paintballs with his blood in efforts to defeat them. However, it was too late, the praying mantises had already matted. At the end Shann has Austin's baby, and they have to live in the bunker.

He often has inner struggles with his thoughts and feelings because he loves his best friend Robby and his girlfriend, Shann Collins. This book truly uses a point of view in which the adolescent interprets the events first hand. The protagonist is very independent by trying to save human kind. This Science fiction book falls into the fantasy sub genre because of the elaborate transformations of the praying mantis.


Author's Website:
http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html

http://www.ladyreader.net/2014/02/blog-tour-grasshopper-jungle-by-andrew_28.html#.Uxdull4-KkI

Michael L. Printz Award Honor 2015
Rainbow List: Top Ten GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens Commended 2015
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Winner 2014

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2014). The Knife of Never Letting Go. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press

Todd, a twelve year old boy, lives in Prentisstown. What's really odd about this town is that they are no girls and their is a germ known as the "Noise". The noise is audible thoughts of every one living nearby including animals. It can't be shout out, so its constantly chaos. As Todd venture out into the woods, he notices that there is a blank space and decides to explore it. However he runs into Aaron, which will keep chasing him through out his journey. He goes back to his house and tells his foster parents about his finding and they quickly tell him that he has to leave to another town. On his way he meets, Viola, a girl! He doesn't know how to interact with her because there are not girls in his town and he doesn't know how to communicate with the noise. Her ship had wrecked and was the lone survivor. They both run in to Aaron again. Eventually in a struggle Viola kills with a knife and try to escape, but the mayor's son shots her in the stomach. Todd then realizes that everything that he was living was a lie. There were no girls in his town, because the men would kill them and were responsible for the noise.

This book fits all the reasons why its a young adult literature book. It protagonist is independent and makes decisions to save his and others lives. When he decided to leave the town, he had to live with the consequences of his actions.

Book Recommendations by the author:
A Monster Calls
The Ask and the Answer
Monster of Men

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj4fowWo7xM

Teacher Resource

Invisible

Douglas Hanson is a seventeen year old boy who gets picked on constantly and is a nerd. His best friend Andy Morrow is completely the opposite. His outgoing, part of the student council, star football player, and is involved with the theater. He is constantly building very elaborate trains and builds a mini town called Madham. Through out the book they make reference to an incident that happened in Tuttle place. Doug's parents take action by taking him to the psychiatrist, since he has issues at school  and even threaten a bomb in school and everyone had be evacuated. They also realized he is not taking his medication. Eventually the psychiatrist got him talk about the incident in Tuttle's place. He admitted that both Andy and him set the place on fire and consequently, Andy died in that fire. That's why he reacted differently around fire. His constant battle with his inner demons was not longer invisible. After he gets home, he sets his mini town on fire and its unsure if he died or is in a psychiatric ward.

The theme in this book is friendship because Andy and Douglas are friend even though they don't have anything in common. Doug story was very sad when he realized that his friend was dead and he would still be talking to him.

Author's Website
http://www.petehautman.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9eX4Cx6OX4

Teacher Resource 
Teacher Resource 2

Feed

Anderson, M. T. (2012). Feed. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Titus is a futuristic boy and 70% of the population including him, have the feed installed in him. The feed is a way of communication with internet access and social media accessibility. Titus and his friends travels to the moon during Spring Break. At that time, he meets a girl named Violet. However, a hacker, a member of The Coalition of Pity, disconnects them from the feed. After a stay in the hospital, they get fixed and go back to Earth where they have to resume their usual life. Soon the humans begin to develop sores due to an unexplained polluted air. Then Violet's feed starts malfunctioning and begin to have episodes.  She past out after an incident with Titus friend. Her feed was installed when she was seven instead of at birth, so it would cost more money to fix it. Titus decides to part ways with her and begin dating Quendy. When Titus sees Violet again, she is like brain dead and he reconnects to her feed and he essentially becomes her feed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWSm6XtRn7I

Teacher Guide 
Teacher Guide 2
Vocabulary List

Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (honor 2003)
National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Finalist 2002)

Freak Show

James, J. S. (2007). Freak Show. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books


Billy Bloom, a seventeen year old student, had to attend Eisenhower Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida due to moving with his dad. He quickly noticed that his usual self was not welcomed at his school. His classmates didn't accept him for he was. Most of the student body was composed of white, rich, and spoiled kids. Trying to fit in wasn't easy, but he decides to stay true to himself. His clothing didn't help his image, because he would dress as a drag queen. Unfortunately, he falls in love with Flip Kelly, the popular football cute guy. He was constantly scrutinized and mistreated verbally and physically. The physical abuse escalated and consequently was in a coma because of his injuries. During his hospital stay, Flip was constant companion. Regardless of his adversities, he decided to run for Homecoming Queen in hopes he would change people's minds.

Billy represents all those students that go through situations like every day of their lives. Homosexuality is very common in schools, but students are still afraid of expressing themselves or if they do, they are always looked down on and become outcasts. I recommend this book for all straight and all the LGBT community. I would have to say that greatest strength of this books, its Billy's character and all his experiences both good and bad that take him through this unforgettable journey.

Books to recommend:

A Party Monster: A Fabulous but true tale of Murder in Clubland, Annie on my Mind

Connections to textbook:

Young adult literature involves a youthful protagonist, highlights contemporary issues, and many students can cannot with this main character.

It's Perfectly Normal:changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health

Harris, R. H. & Emberley, M. (2014). It's perfectly normal: changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

This book is to learn about puberty and the changes that the body takes you through. It has answers to many questions students have and a safe way to learn about. They range from sex, birth control, and AIDS. It explain the physical, psychological, emotional, and social changes. It includes cartoonist ways to explain the menstruation cycle and to birth.

Teacher Resource

Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Honor 1995)

Fangirl

Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press

Cather and Wren are twin sisters and are headed to the University of Nebraska -Lincoln. They have always been very close, however, Wren decides she doesn't want to room with Cather. So, Cather ends up with Reagan and her ex-boyfriend Levi. Cather is taken by surprise and has always been very to herself. The anxiety started building after she left her dad behind with bipolar mental issues, her mother had abandon them when they were 8, and now Wren won't room with her. She is a great fan of Simon Snow, after all, that's what got them trough their mom's abandonment. Wren was slowly detaching from their fanaticism, but Cather couldn't. She was reserved unlike her sister who was ready to start partying once they sat foot in college. Her Professor Piper gives her an assignment to write with the upperclassmen, and quickly realizes she is an excellent writer. Soon, she starts dealing with her Dad's constant episodes, falling in love with Levi, and seeing her sister deal with alcohol issues. At the end she was able to get the guy, stabilize her sister's alcoholism, live with Dad's bipolar episodes, and get the Prarie Schooner Prize.

Cather is a young protagonist that goes through character development. Her character undergoes through significant changes. She had to take the lead and look out for her dad and sister.

https://us.macmillan.com/static/smp/fangirl/








Book Recommendations:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Looking for Alaska by John Green
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian

Author's Website:
http://www.rainbowrowell.com/

The Notorious Benedict Arnold

Sheinkin, S. (2010). The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.


Benedict Arnold was on top of the world. He was living in luxury, rich, and famous and was known as attractive, brilliant, and brave. Although he was known a greatest general in the Revolutionary War, when he turned his back on his country all that vanished. George Washington had appointed him to his post, but after aiding he felt that he wouldn't receive enough credit. Everything that he did, he believe to be done the correct way. Most of his family members are dead. Throughout the book the author, describes his military decisions when he invaded Canada, when he created the first American Naval fleet, the Battle of Valcour, and the Battle of Saratoga. He died known as a traitor, so no one missed him.

The theme in this book is to be grateful with what you have. Benedict Arnold was greedy and selfish and the more he wanted, the more he lost. The main character had a lot of inner drama and made difficult decisions that led him to be who he was. I liked the fact the the novel included maps and how the chapters were labeled by their time period.

Author's Website

Meet the Author Book Reading 

Teacher Resource




Book recommendations from the author: King George: What was his problem?: Everything your schoolbooks didn't tell you about the American Revolution, Two Miserable Presidents: Everything your schoolbooks didn't tell you about the Civil War, and Which Way to the Wild West: Everything your school

Deadline

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Ben Wolf, an eighteen year old high school senior, finds out through a sport physical exam that he has a rare blood disease. He lives in a small town, Trout, Idaho. He must go under extensive therapy to save his life, but he decides that he will not go through any treatments and live his life to the fullest in his last year. His mother already suffers from a mental illness and the news would break her apart, so Ben decides not to tell her. His life perspective changed and decides to take advantage of his last year of life. He tries out for the high school football team where his brother Cody is the star player. Coach Bank is hesitant about giving him a chance, but as he sees that he can tackle men bigger than him, he doesn't regret it. Because of his new outlook in  life, he decides to pursue Dallas Suzuki, a volleyball player. She works for the school newspaper and invites him to do an interview about his football high school career. During his dreams, Hey-soos would be the character that would help him find himself. Ben enjoyed reading non-fiction and gets frustrated that his history teacher, Mr. Lambeer, uses bias materials to teach them. He decided to challenge his teacher with a school project named Malcolm X. At the end he realize that keeping his illness a secret was hurting his family. He then reveals his secret about his illness.


Ben's character is a young adolescent that had deep inner struggles. He was very brave to decide to keep his illness a secret. His perseverance and willingness to keep his body alive for one more year. The realistic fiction book portrays events and situations that can truly happen.

Author's Website

Teacher Resource
Teacher Resource 2
Teacher Resource 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u02ffjY8S4

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

King, A. S. (2014). Glory O'Brien's History of the Future. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Glory's mom committed suicide at the age of four. At the age of eighteen, Ellie and Glory put bat ashes into their beers and suddenly gain psychic powers which lets them see the past and future. She then foresees a second Civil War and the women rights' were not considered anymore. Glory also realizes that her mother and father really loved her and helps with the feelings of her mother's suicide. She began writing down all her visions in efforts to try to help it from happening and realized that she had a purpose and reason to life.

The protagonist was very scared about her visions, and her mixed emotions about her life.


Author's Website

Author's Interview 

Teacher Resource
Teacher Resource 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cAqwuQeZ58

An Abundance of Katherines

Green, J. (2006). An Abundance of Katherines. New York, NY: Dutton Books.

Colin Singleton, a child prodigy, grew up scared thinking that his genius wouldn't last up to his adulthood. He dated nineteen Katherines, and the last Katherine recently broke up with him. Hassan Harbish convinces Colin to go on a road trip from Chicago to Tennessee and end up visiting the resting place of Archduke Franz Ferndinand. There they meet Lindsey Lee Wells, which later they end  up working with her mom. Colin starts liking Lindsey, but quickly realizes his eureka moment. The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, had work with every Katherine except one. Hassan begins a relationship with Katrina, but their relationship is cut short when colling and Hassan caught Katrina having sex with TOC. At the end Lindsey and Collin declare their love to each other and Collin realizes that his theory only works to know why the relationship failed. 

The protagonist, Colin, finds love after dating all 19 antagonists, Katherines. The other antagonists was TOC, the other Colin who was Lindsey's boyfriend. The theme of this story, is that everyone matters and you have a place in this world. I really enjoyed this book! I enjoy John Green's books, they are very emotional. Through the book, I felt really bad for Colin because he was trying too hard for someone to fall in love with him. When he met Lindsey, Colin ended up learning about himself and she loved the way he was. 

Author's Website

Teacher Resource Teacher Resource 2

Teacher Resource 3 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdaUADtRGOo

I Hunt Killers

Lyga, B. (2014). I Hunt Killers. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Jasper Dent is the son of Billy Dent, a famous serial killer, who was recently arrested. Soon after his detainment, the killings resume and people begin to assume that Jasper had followed his father's footsteps. Jazz, his friend, Howie, and girlfriend, Connie, join forces to find out clues about the killer. He ended up finding out that his father had escaped from prison and he was the one that had continued the killings. Billy Dent is a very smart guy, but uses his knowledge to invest it on the killings. He even taught his son the loopholes for getting away with murder.

Jazz has a lot struggles due to being a teenager, having dad in jail, and dealing with teenage issues. He goes through internal drama at the beginning and more as the story develops. Jasper is the protagonist and Billy the antagonist. Jazz faces a major internal conflict. He couldn't decide if he can go against everyone's beliefs and be his own person away from murder. He has flashbacks about cutting into things. His battles with the fear of him taking his dad's place and live with that decision or be himself. He also was ashamed of telling others what his dad would do.The theme of this book is that no one can force you to do anything you don't want and also that it depends with what people you associated yourself. You have control of your life and only you.

Teacher Resource

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/barry-lyga/i-hunt-killers/9781619699724/

Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. New York, NY: Amistad and HaperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins.

This book tells a story of sixteen year old African American black male named Steve Harmon. He is standing trial for murder along with James King. The trial is for the robbery at a drugstore in Harlem and the death of Aguinaldo Nesbitt, the clerk. There are other two boys involved in the robbery, but have entered into a different plea deal, Richard Evans and Osvaldo Cruz. Steve is accused as being the lookout person during the robbery. As Steve is confined in jail, he narrates his story in a journal format. Its mainly writing as a screen play named "Monster", because he imagines that its a project for Mr. Sawicki's film class. The name "Monster" derives from the prosecuting attorney, Sandra Petrocelli, whom named him a monster. Kathy O'Brien is Steve's defense attorney and works with him to prepare him well to take the stand. Steven is found not guilty of the charges against him. At the end of the book, Steve becomes just a good boy trying to find his own place in the world.

The daily journal writing gives the reader an insight into his emotions, feelings, and nervousness of being found guilty. This book takes us into current issues that our country phases, in which races play a huge role. The notion that he was black and around black criminals, made him very nervous in jail and he thought he would be found guilty regardless of the testimony. This book is an excellent resource to demonstrate to the students that one wrong decision can affect you the rest of your life.



Author's Website

Teacher Resource
Teacher Resources 2 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=book+trailers+for+monster+walter&view=detail&mid=7F63B7A6ED3C4D25C8117F63B7A6ED3C4D25C811&FORM=VIRE 

Mexican WhiteBoy

Peña, M. D. (2008). Mexican WhiteBoy. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

Danny is a young sixteen year old boy who goes to National City, California to visit his dad and his side of the family. Upon on arriving with dad, he is quite upset because he doesn't speak English. He meets Uno and develops a strong trust worthy relationship. There the students look down at him because of skin color. They become quite shocked when they realized that he doesn't speak Spanish. He is an excellent pitcher and throws the baseball at 95 miles per hour. He hated the fact the his mom would invite mostly whites to the house instead of more Mexicans. He doesn't quite fit in with his classmates and neighborhood. As Danny tries to deal with everything going around, he ends up hurting himself by breaking his skin with his nails.

I think the majority of adolescents have inner struggles of who they are. Danny struggled with being half-white and half-Mexican and Uno struggled with being half-black and half-Mexican. Living in San Diego really didn't help them fit in. Uno lived in a neighborhood where he was the darkest of all and mostly confused as black. Danny was to white to fit with the Mexicans. Self hurting is a very common issue with a lot of young adults. I really like how this book can help other young kids who might be going through a similar situation. Matt de la Peña, has truly done amazing things in this book. For example, he combines several literature elements like foreshadowing. He also has Danny doing the protagonist and antagonist to his own character.

Author's Website

Teacher Resource
Teacher Resource 2
Quiz

Dread Locks

Shusterman, N. (2005). Dread Locks. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.

Parker Baer is a rich, wealthy, and has a very privileged life. Until, one day he gets a new neighbor, Tara. She is always wearing her sunglasses and doesn't take them off. He also notices that in Tara's house there are a lot of life like statues. Tara asked Parker to introduce her to his friends at school. Parker begins to notice this increasing hunger surprisingly disappears. However, he turns he cat in stone and it was very satisfying. He later decides to hunt for bigger animals. Parker wanted to tell his best friend about it, but couldn't control his hunger and took off his glasses and turned him into stone. At the end of the book, Parker feels disappointed about his actions, and decides to reveal his eyes to Tara, but once she caught on, she too open here eyes. They are immortal so their consequence is that they will be stone like for the rest of their lives.

This horror and suspenseful book will keep at the edge of your seat. Tara's personality and golden dreaded curls caught Parker's attention immediately. The antagonist had everyone at her feet and fell for her spell. I like how somethings were predictable, such as the Medusa.

Author's Website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhs8rgBDVlg

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Black, H. (2013). The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

After a party in which everyone else is killed by vampires, Tana escapes with her ex-boyfriend Aidan and the vampire Gavriel, who is, for some reason, at odds with their attackers. Tana is bitten during the narrow getaway, and Aidan is already Cold from his recent bite, beginning his treansformation from human to vampire. Worried that she will go cold too, and not wanting to endanger her family by going home, Tana heads with the other two to the nearest Coldtown, a city quarantined to keep vampires and those at risk of turning away from the rest of the population. There are also groupies, drawn by the glamour and excitement of life in Coldtown as played out on the city's live feed. The reality of life in Coldtown is much grimmer than seen on TV, however; it's a treacherous pit of exploitation and excess. Upon crossing Coldtown's borders, Tana and Aidan are thrown in with some of those groupies, while Gavriel seeks to enact revenge against a powerful peer. Then Tana discovers her younger sister has entered the city and is determined to find her and get her out. 

Author's Website

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/holly-black/the-coldest-girl-in-coldtown/9780316213103/

An Amazon Best Teen Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2014

YALSA Top Ten Amazing Audio Books

Kirkus Best YA Books

Texas's Tayshas Reading List Top Ten

Shiver

Stiefvater, M. (2009). Shiver. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Grace remembers the time she was bitten by wolves almost killed. It seems painful, but she describes it as a friendly dog licking her, but bloodier. Grace, the human, is in love with Sam, the wolf. When some wolves kill Jack Culpeper, hunters invade the Boundary Wood to hunt them. Sam is hot and Grace finds him bleeding in his human form. She then realized that Sam is the wolf she was falling in love with. As she falls more in love with him, she decides to find a cure for Sam so he won't become a wolf forever. Jack's sister, Isabel, discovers that Jack is is alive and is now a wolf. When Grace and Sam are apart, Sam spends his days searching for Jack. He is afraid that Jack will expose the wolves's secret to the world. Isabel and Grace hang out more, as Isabel mourns Jack and Grace fears Sam for dead. One cold night, however, Grace is refilling the bird feeder in her snowy backyard when Sam emerges from the woods. Not because he's hoping to crunch a yummy bird in his wolf jaws. No, he is human. They embrace and speak each other's name.



Author's Website

Teacher Resource

http://www.booklistreader.com/2009/10/22/young-adult-literature/book-trailer-thursday-shiver/

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults 2011
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2010
Teens' Top Ten 2010