Sones, S. (2013). To be perfectly honest: A novel based on an untrue story. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Genre: Romance, realistic, verse Intended audience: Teenage girls Personal reaction to the book: Colette, the protagonist, is one of the most annoying characters it has ever been my displeasure to see through… Continue reading Perfectly dreadful
Category: Reading between the lines
Sweet 16 ain’t so peachy keen
Shepard, S. (2008). Unbelievable. New York: Harper Teen. Genre: Mystery Intended audience: Mid-teen girls and older Personal reaction to the book: Surprisingly good (it is the basis for an ABC Family TV show) little thriller. Combines lots of social infighting/gossip with just a touch of violence to produce a book with a lot going on.… Continue reading Sweet 16 ain’t so peachy keen
He’s a magic man
Scott, M. (2007). The Alchemyst: The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel. New York: Delacorte. Genre: Fantasy Intended audience: Teens/young adults Personal reaction to the book: This is a worthy follow-up to J. K. Rowling for YA readers who have memorized Harry Potter and are looking for another fantasy series to pick up. Scott has… Continue reading He’s a magic man
Long black veil
Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. New York: Pantheon. Genre: Graphic novel Intended audience: Mid- to older teens Personal reaction to the book: I enjoyed this. The art is done in a distinctive style, almost minimalist, and the black-and-white presentation adds to the tone of the book. The subject matter is equally distinctive, telling the story of… Continue reading Long black veil
Digging Holes
Sachar, L. (2008). Holes: 10th anniversary edition. New York: Yearling. Genre: Adventure Intended audience: Tweens and younger teens Personal reaction to the book: A great tween/teen story: Nice use of flashbacks, good moral without being moralist and a quick, fun read. Well-crafted characters. The mundane description of the bizarre work camp adds texture. It's a… Continue reading Digging Holes
Boy21 for the ages
Quick, M. (2012). Boy21. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Genre: Realistic Intended audience: Any teens, especially boys Personal reaction to the book: A book about the transformative power of friendship. Wow. We've been reading a lot of YA books with a background of mental illness for this class (Wintergirls, It's kind of… Continue reading Boy21 for the ages
Here be drag … (yawns)
Paolini, C. (2003). Eragon. New York: A.E. Knopf Genre: Fantasy Intended audience: Tweens through mid-teens Personal reaction to the book: A remarkable achievement for a teenage author and my kid loves it. From an adult perspective, it is a paint-by-numbers fantasy title. The protagonist is more than a little self-centered, even for a YA book,… Continue reading Here be drag … (yawns)
Death or glory, just another story?
Myers, W.D. (2008). Sunrise over Fallujah. New York: Scholastic. Genre: War / realistic Intended audience: Mid-teens and up Personal reaction to the book: This is a standard war story: Hero is wounded; buddy dies in heroic attempt to save an innocent. It wants to be an anti-war book, but spent too much time describing the details… Continue reading Death or glory, just another story?
Taken for a Ride
Patterson, J. (2005). The angel experiment (Maximum Ride #1). New York: Little, Brown & Co. Genre: Fantasy / adventure Intended audience: General YA Personal reaction to the book: It's a crap book, but it's a crap book aimed carefully at a demographic that undoubtedly loves it. The extensive, repeated descriptions of flying and escaping the bad… Continue reading Taken for a Ride
Cosmic Q& A
Munroe, R. (2014). What if? New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Genre: Nonfiction, humor Intended audience: Geeks of all ages; some of the humor will be lost on young readers Personal reaction to the book: It's a little like Mythbusters, only on an untestable scale. Munroe muses about or answers readers' often impossible questions (What would happen… Continue reading Cosmic Q& A
