Book Review: Cracked

Cracked by K. M. Walton

Request a copy of this book from the library catalog!

SUMMARY:  Victor hates his life. He’s relentlessly bullied at school and his parents constantly ridicule him at home.  Bull is angry. He’s sick of his grandfather’s drunken beatings. And he likes to take out his rage on Victor.  Determined to end it all, Victor takes a bottle of his mother’s sleeping pills—only to be disappointed when he wakes up in the psych ward. And his roommate? None other than Bull, whose loaded-gun effort at self-defense has been labeled as a suicide attempt.  (from the book description)

OPINION:  An acquantance of mine was involuntarily committed in high school, and I remember him remarking after he was released that the only people who really understood him were in the hospital.  At the time, I thought that was really weird, and slightly offensive to the rest of the people in his life!  However, this book provided a glimpse into the minds and experiences of mentally ill teens that helped me gain some empathy for him many years after the fact.  Although I found it awfully convenient that both boys were substantially helped by meeting girls in therapy, I still have to say that this is a powerful and moving story.  It had me on the verge of tears several times!  This book is definitely a high school read, and excellent for fans of very realistic fiction by authors like Ellen Hopkins.
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Book Review: Unbreak My Heart

Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
Review by Arig

**This book will be released on May 22, 2012.**

Unbreak My Heart is about a girl that falls in love unintentionally. Clementine Williams had just had a fight with her best friend Amanda. It was over a boy and Amanda ends up forgiving the boy and hating her best friend, Clementine. The summer rolls around and Clementine’s parents decide to take her and Olive, her younger sister, on a trip away from technology. They’re going to sail the seas. Most of the trip Clementine is crying and angry because of the fight between her and Amanda. The problem is that she isn’t able to tell anyone and even so her little sister tries to comfort her blindly.

At one of the ports that the family stops at to refuel, Clementine meets James. She bumps into him and knocks over his shopping basket full of bananas. Little does she know that James and his father are sailing on the same route. James and Clementine begin to spend time with each other, getting to know each other and Olive tags along. When Clementine feels that her relationship with James is beginning to take a turn to the better, she confesses to him why her friend and she “broke up.” James goes silent for awhile and Clementine goes back to being depressed for awhile until she has a nervous breakdown and she tells her parents everything. The story goes on with James coming around and both Clementine and James have a relationship until the summer is over.

Overall, this story was really good. I did enjoy it and it was a semi-quick read. At times I was confused because the story kept switching from flashback to present but this story was good. I would recommend this book to people who like chick-flick kind of books. I have to say their sailing adventure sounds so cool and James sounds like a one-of-a kind guy. I applaud Ms. Walker and give this book 4 stars.

Book Review: What Happened to Goodbye

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What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

What I like about Sarah Dessen's writing is how her characters seem like people you could actually know.  Mclean Elizabeth Sweet's parents had a messy, public divorce during her sophomore year, and she fought to live with her dad.  After living in three towns in two years, Mclean is starting over again in a new one.  Instead of adopting a persona (Beth, Eliza, Lizbet), she accidentally ends up as the "real" Mclean again. And, when life gets real, families, friendships, and relationships take on depth and meaning that can be hard to handle.  As in most of Sarah Dessen's books, there is a great guy in store (Dave, in this case)!  I also have to give Dessen credit for including characters' parents, and giving them their own problems and viewpoints. I didn't love this book as much as some of her others, but it was a satisfying read. It does have a few connections her previous book, Along for the Ride, which was fun.  This is a good book to curl up with on a rainy day or quiet weekend!

Book Review: Sean Griswold's Head

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Review by Elena

Sean Griswold's Head is a story about an average girl named Payton Gritas.  Ond day, she accidentally sees her mom injecting a needle into her dad's veins.  After this sudden shock, her parents tell her it's not what she thinks.  Her father has multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.  She is outraged to find out that her brothers already know, and Payton desides not to speak with her family.  Payton's parents ask the school counselor to help her, and the counselor tells her to keep a focus notebook.  This might help her focus on something other than her father's disease.  She also chooses a focus object to redirect her attention.  Unfortunately, Payton chooses the head of Sean Griswold, a boy who sits in front of her in biology class. 

Writing in the notebook is helpful at times, but Payton constantly argues with her best friends, quits the basketball team, and starts to do poorly in school.  Payton also slowly becomes friends with Sean, and is slowly crushing on him.  She still will not speak with her family at all, even though she always sees her father in pain and not moving at all because of the disease.  Payton's anger grows, not just at her family, but at the disease.  As the months pass, Sean persuades Payton to practice for a bike marathon to raise money for multiple sclerosis.  

I think this book is a great story for anyone over the age of 12.  It tells a lot about multiple sclerosis and the real symptoms people have.  This story is unique and fun, but also deals with a serious subject.

Book Review: Hate List

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

(Click here to find a library copy.)

Near the end of her junior year, Valerie's leg was badly injured in a school shooting.  Several students and a favorite teacher were killed; others were injured.  Valerie stopped the shooter's rampage, but she was also implicated in the crime:  the shooter, Nick, was her boyfriend, and his targets were people on a list she had started.  Can Valerie return for her senior year?  Should she even be allowed?  Is she guilty?  Is she a hero?  Tough questions face Valerie, and the reader, in this realistic look at life after a tragedy.  I appreciated how the author showed the impact of the shooting on Valerie's family through the story.  Also, the discussions Valerie has in therapy are really thought-provoking.  If you like to read seriously realistic fiction, then this one's for you.

Realistic Fiction Reads

I've been reading more than usual lately, but I haven't caught up on the blog!  Here are three recent reads of note, covering a wide variety of realistic fiction:

Jane by April Lindner
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Noticing all of the attention Jane Austen's books been getting recently, April Lindner thought it was Charlotte Bronte's turn.  A passionate fan of Bronte's Jane Eyre, Lindner created an updated retelling of this classic story.  Forced to drop out of college after her parents' death, straight-laced Jane takes a nanny job at a remote estate for the daughter of Nico Rathburn, a reclusive rock star.  Of course, tortured romance ensues, as Jane falls for Nico against her better judgement.  This is an engaging and romantic read, especially if you are familiar with the original.  Curl up with it when your schedule is open, because you will want to finish it once you start!

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Going to summer camp is one thing, but what if your mom decided that the whole family should spend time together at pioneer camp?  Gen's family has packed off for a summer at Camp Frontier, where they will live, work, and eat like American pioneers.  Gen sneaks her phone in, and texts desperate messages to her friends about this "Little Hell on the Prairie."  What she doesn't know is that they are reposting her texts to a blog that is rapidly gaining popularity.  When Gen's friends show up with a TV camera crew to rescue Gen, it could be the best thing that ever happened to her--or the worst.  This is a light read that will make you laugh, especially if you were a fan of the Little House books and always wanted to live like Laura's family!  And, it will definitely make you feel better about wherever you have to go to camp this summer.

How to Steal a Car by Pete Hautman
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Everyone needs to escape from their own lives sometimes.  For some of us, it's through books, exercise, movies, or another healthy activity.  For Kelleigh, however, it's stealing cars.  She falls into it by accident, finding a set of keys on the ground and taking advantage of the opportunity.  But the thrill gets her hooked, and she spends her summer toying with increasingly dangerous car thefts.  Why does Kelleigh do this?  Even she doesn't know for sure.  However, she rationalizes each theft to herself in such a convincing manner that it all seems perfectly OK.  My favorite moment of the story is definitely when she steals the obnoxious yellow Hummer of an equally obnoxious classmate as revenge and drives it into a lake!  As a reader, I was wondering when Kelleigh would learn her lesson or get arrested.  But, the author creates a really interesting dilemma by not allowing those things to happen during the story.  This is a short read (only 170 pages and it's double-spaced), so read it and think for yourself!

Recommendation: The Wanderer

The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Katie
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  It's well written and I like the randomness of it.

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Recommendation: Lemonade Mouth

Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Afsara
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  It was really interesting.  I love the way he wrote it in different points of view.  The book was funny in a weird way.  Please keep it!  :)

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Recommendation: Bucking the Sarge

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Monet
Should we keep it? YES
Why?  Because it was very funny.

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Review: Freaks and Revelations

Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin
(Click here to find a library copy.)

SUMMARY:  This raw, moving novel follows two teenagers--one, a Mohawk-wearing 17-year-old violent misfit; the other, a gay 13-year-old cast out by his family, hustling on the streets and trying to survive. Told in alternating perspectives, the novel follows their lives before and after the violent hate crime that changed both their futures. This is a tragic but ultimately inspirational story of two polarized teens, their violent first meeting, and their peaceful reunion years later.  Inspired by the real lives of Timothy Zaal and Matthew Boger, this book is a journey from fear and hate to tolerance and hope.  And it is proof that people can truly change.  (adapted from the inside flap)

OPINION:  I don't have a great imagination.  It's hard for me to understand other people's motivations for doing things that seem crazy to me.  Why would someone become a neo-Nazi?  Why would a child's family kick him out?  That's why I appreciate when authors undertake difficult subjects.  It helps give me insight and empathy for people very different than me.  Although this book is fiction, the author had many interviews with the men whose real lives inspired the story.  She created a believable, although harsh, path for both characters that allowed me to see the progression that led to the extremes of their lives.  Both boys are outsiders, but in completely different ways, and each comes to his own revelations.  I particularly appreciated Paul's accurate intuition that secrets are what has torn his family apart. The timeline of the book seemed to speed up as the story progressed, leaving me wishing for more writing about both of their adult lives, particularly Doug's transformation into a full neo-Nazi.  This book is a challenging read, as you descend into lives filled with pain, racism, homophobia, and violence.  I recommend this book to high school readers looking to read outside of their own experiences.  You won't be disappointed.

NOTE:  Freaks and Revelations was just listed as a 2010 Stonewall honor book.  The Stonewall Book Awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.  It's always great to look at award lists and have actually read one of the books!

Recommendation: Frenemies

Frenemies by Alexa Young
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Whitney
Should we keep it?  YES
Why? Because it talks about how the two friends aren't really friends, until they realize that their friendship is more important than a fight.

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Recommendation: Absolutely Maybe

Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Yasmine
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  Because people can learn that life isn't always easy.  It was the kind of book that you want to know what happens next and you can't put the book down.  It was a really good book and I enjoyed reading it!

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Recommendation: Letters from the Inside

Letters from the Inside by John Marsden
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Imani
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  Because this book is very good.  It relates to some of the things that happen in people's lives.

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Recommendation: Boy Proof

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci
(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Genni
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  This is a great book.  I love romance books, and this is a good romance, but slightly weird, whilch makes it different.  And that makes it good.  I read this book in three days, which is pretty good for me.

This book was part of the Last Call book display in the teen section during November and December. Thanks to everyone who participated! If you still have slips, no worries. Just bring them in by the end of January.

Recommendation: A Friend at Midnight

A Friend at Midnight by Caroline B. Cooney

(Click here to find a library copy.)

Recommendation by Eliza

Should we keep it?  YES

Why?  This is a very insightful book; probably one of the best I've read, and I read a lot of books.

This book was part of the Last Call display in the teen section.  Eliza checked it out, read it, and filled out the bookmark with her recommendation.  You can do the same...there are a lot more books that need a boost from readers like you!  Just make sure you get to the library before December 30 to participate.

Recommendation: So B. It

So B. It by Sarah Weeks
(Click here to find a library copy)

Recommendation by Saranjeet
Should we keep it?  YES
Why?  I strongly suggest that we we keep this book because it's really good and very well written.

This book was part of the Last Call display in the teen section.  Saranjeet checked it out, read it, and filled out the bookmark with her recommendation.  You can do the same...there are a lot more books that need a boost from readers like you!