FAKE MUSTACHE

Angleberger, T., & Wang, J. (2012). Fake mustache: Or, how Jodie O'Rodeo and her wonder horse (and some nerdy guy) saved the U.S. Presidential election from a mad genius criminal mastermind. New York: Amulet Books.

The protagonist of this book is seventh grader, Lenny Flem Jr. He lives a mundane life until he accompanies his best friend, Casper Bengue, to Sven’s Fair Price Store. This wondrous emporium sells everything from fake tattoos to fake gum. It is the fake mustaches, the Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven in particular, that changes Lenny’s life. With the Heidelberg perched upon his upper lip Casper has an evil plan to overtake the entire nation and it is up to Lenny to stop him from completing his nefarious plan.

The madcap adventure really takes off when Casper takes over Sven’s, then the city council. Under the pseudonym Fako Mustacho, the tiny tyrant wannabe is able to become a bank robber and hire various people (librarian’s and fast food workers to name a few) to protect him. Lenny is the only one who is able to see Casper for who he really is. With the help of tv-star Jodie O’Rodeo, he believes that he can foil his former best friend’s plan for national domination.

Lenny and Jodie are successful in their endeavor. Lenny uses his Heidelberg super sticky hand, to thwart an assassination attempt on Casper and to yank his mustache off.

Angleberger’s story is fast-paced romp that upper-elementary students will love. The zany characters and outlandish plot is the stuff of belly chuckles. More mature readers can enjoy the book as long as they are able to suspend their sense of reality for the afternoon it would take to read this book.

SPEAK

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

The narrator of this book is freshman, Melinda Sordino and she is perhaps the most unpopular student at her high school. During the summer she and other incoming freshman were invited to an upperclassman’s party. She ended up calling the police and this call for help has made her a social reject.

Melinda is doomed to solitude but she is befriended by a transfer student named Heather who aspires to popularity. This is the last thing that Melinda wants, but she craves some sort of social interaction and continues this “friendship.” As the year progresses, Melinda becomes more and more reserved and self-withdrawn. She manages to steal tardy slips and uses those to hideout in an abandoned janitor’s closet. This closet and her art class are the only places that she finds solace.

It is obvious that something terrible has happened to her but she stonewalls her parents and as a result, they think she is acting out in some form of teenage rebellion. We learn that that is not true. She has become withdrawn and a former shadow of herself because popular senior, Andy Evans raped her at that summer party and that is why she had called the police. She, however, was so traumatized that she couldn’t speak and that is what drew the police to the party.

After months of silence and lip biting, Melinda is finally able to confront what happened to her. Her recovery is slow but gets a boost when she realizes that her former middle school friend, Rachel, is in danger. Although her former friend doesn’t believe her, she continues on her road to becoming stronger and eventually becomes the whistleblower that allows other girls to come forward about Andy’s attacks on them.

Due to its heavy themes, this book is most appropriate for high school students.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.

In this autobiographical-esque book, Alexie provides his readers with a funny yet bleak description of reservation life and the struggle that Native Americans face growing up. The protagonist of this coming of age novel is freshman, Arnold “Junior” Spirit.

Aside from the obstacles stacked against him because of his cultural heritage Arnold was also born with too much water in his brain has caused him grief all his life. It is a condition that could lead to death or severe disabilities. He however escaped with just a lisp and a stutter.

Arnold is a funny and self-deprecating narrator. He is stoic about getting beaten up on a regular basis. He writes about going over half-a-day without eating in a plain matter, because he is used to it, and it is not if others on the reservation are not suffering the same fate. He, in fact, considers himself lucky because he has a family who loves him. His father may be a drunk who will regularly take all their money to go on a bender, but he never beats him.

He is suspended from school, after throwing a geometry book at his white teacherHe doesn’t mean to hit the teacher, but as his luck would have it he does. His teacher, who is not resentful, visits him a few days into the suspension and encourages him to leave the reservation.

After deliberating, Arnold follows his teacher’s advice and begins to attend a “white” school, over twenty miles away. This educational move marks him as a traitor in his community. He finds himself caught between his home world and his school world and he believes that he does not fit in, in either place. As a result, he is must construct a new identity for himself.

In the end he realizes that he can belong to his Spokane Indian tribe as well as the “tribe of American immigrants…basketball players…bookworms…teenage boys (and) beloved sons…”


Due to its graphic language, heavy themes and teen sexuality, this book would best be read and studied by high school students.

EL DEAFO

Bell, C., & Lasky, D. (2014). El Deafo. New York: Abrams.

This charming graphic novel is best suited for upper elementary and middle grade readers.  It is an autographical account of how the author dealt with growing up hearing impared.

Cece was not born with her impediment.  It was only after she caught meningitis at the age of four that her hearing began to deteriorate.  When she starts school her parents enroll her in a school specifically for children with hearing disabilities.  She loves it and learns much, but soon her family moves and was no longer able to attend that school.

Cece is not a perfect and in fact her pride was perhaps her biggest enemy.  It keeps her from explaining that she cannot understand what people are saying if she can’t read their lips and that sometimes, even if she can see their mouths she might not fully grasp what they are saying.  This of course leads Cece into some sticky situations and a plethora of insecurities.  She deals with this by creating an alter ego: “El Deafo.” El Deafo is a steely nerved superhero that says and does whatever Cece is feeling and wishes she could say to those around her.

GABI: A GIRL IN PIECES

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

  

In this coming of age story, we meet Gabriela- Gabi- Hernandez. She is a Mexican-American girl who lives with her brother and mother and occasionally her meth-head father. Quintero presents Gabi's stories in a series of journal entries. These entries chronicle her senior year and her family dysfunctional family dynamic.

At the start of the book Gabi's best friend, Cindy informs her that she is pregnant and Sebastian, her other best friend, informs his family that he is gay and they respond by kicking him out his house.

Gabi and her friends handle these obstacles and the others they face in a realistic and authentic way. There is no deus ex machina for these teens. Instead, the characters-especially Gabi, who battles obesity- must learn from their mistakes and whatever wrench is thrown their way.

One way Gabi, deals is via her poetry. She expresses herself and her frustrations via this media. In fact, she is recognized for her outstanding work and it becomes a vehicle for her to overcome the overwhelming odds that she faces as a young Latina and young woman.

This book is best suited for upper high school students because of the heavy themes and some vulgar language.

ANNIE ON MY MIND

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Although this novel was published 35 years ago its subject matter and themes are still as relevant today as they were three decades ago.

The protagonist of the book is senior Eliza Winthrop. She is the student body president at the exclusive, if somewhat rundown private school, Foster Academy. One Saturday, she meets Annie Kenyon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The girls immediately strike up a friendship, although they come from different backgrounds and are fundamentally different- Liza is more straight-laced and Annie is more of a free spirit.

The girl’s friendship quickly morphs into something more. They are both aware of their feelings, but they are aware of the disdain their early 1980’s society has towards gay people. The girls awkwardly fumble through their relationship and when their relationship is discovered, it is more than just their lives that are effected.

And even when Liza’s father tries to come to accept his daughter’s love and relationship he reflects society’s views: “…I want you to be happy in other ways too, as your mother is-to have a husband and children.”

This book is intended for high school readers and would be a great starting point for students to discuss the way American society has evolved in their views towards homosexual couples and the ways that those views have stayed the same.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Penguin Books.


Green’s novel is an unexpected treat for readers. Sure, the movie was good, but as the maxim goes, the book is always better. The sixteen-year-old protagonist Hazel Grace Lancaster has been battling terminal thyroid cancer nearly all her life. A miracle drug gives her an extension on life but is not until she meets Augustus Waters at a cancer survivor group that she truly starts to live and appreciate her lease on life to the fullest.

One of the major themes in this novel is that of courage. This book is not dystopian fodder. The characters do not face tyrannical overlords. They do not have to fight against fantastical and magical creatures. Instead they face a monster that one too many teens and their families are acquainted with- Cancer. They must endure endless hospital and doctor’s visits all while having the ever real and present threat of death hanging over them. Yet, besides this all too real threat they have the courage to smile, to love.

Besides being a love story, at its core this novel is a bildungsroman. Through her relationship with Augustus Hazel moves forward from the stagnant life she was existing in. She blossoms into a young woman who has ventures into new friendships and adventures- that might seem bland to others, but for someone with her health issues is revolutionary.

THE POISON EATERS AND OTHER STORIES

Black, H., & Black, T. (2010). The poison eaters and other stories. Easthampton, MA: Big Mouth House.

Black’s anthology of short stories is impactful and reels in the reader from the very first short story, “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown." In this story, 16-year-old Matlida is bitten by a vampire. Alone and more than slightly buzzed, she sees a chance to do one final good deed.

Other stories follow the vein of her dark fairy series-which is a must read for fantasy lovers! She even gives fans a treat with the story, “The Land of Heart's Desire.”

Another story of note is that of “The Dog King.” With this offering Holly gives us a fantastical story set in medieval times. The story, in which not everything is what is seems to be, is a story that revolves around humans and wolves.

Many readers describe themselves as getting lost in a book. But what would one do if they this was truly possible. In “Paper Cuts Scissors” the male protagonist starts a library club to win back his girlfriend who is able to put things- including herself into books.

This diverse collection would be a good starting point for a short story writing unit.

IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL

Harris, R. (2009). It's perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

In this highly contested book Harris, boldly explain the what occurs during puberty.  He does not gloss over the momentous changes that occurs to both the female and male body.  This book is a perfect springboard for parents who are reluctant or are not certain on how to approach their children with this topic.

The prevailing theme throughout the book is that no matter how different we are, all human bodies are “perfectly normal.”  He is also sure to mention the consequences of sexual intercourse. 

The art pieces that accompany the book alternate between the realistic, if somewhat whimsical and what some might deem as “graphic.” But one can make the case that in an educational book such as this, “graphic” is needed so that children/preteens can better understand the changes that are occurring in their body.

GEORGE

Gino, A. (2015). George. New York: Scholastic.

In this timely novel, Gino tells us the story of George who genetically was born a boy but knows that he is truly a girl. This something that the 10-year-old feels that she cannot share with others. She is already picked on by the boys in her class and even her brother and mother suspect that she might be gay, they don’t realize that her secret has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

The book begins with George ashamedly hiding who she is and questioning WHO exactly she is. She rushes home from school each day to dress up and chat with her “friends.” These friends are the models in the teen fashion magazines that George has secretly collected. Thankfully, George has a real friend in the spunky Kelly.

After reading Charlotte’s Web, Geroge’s fifth grade class will be putting on a school production and it is her deepest wish to portray Charlotte. Unfortunately, Charlotte is a female spider and she knows that the part will go to a “real” girl. She is heart-broken when Kelly gets the roll but she soldiers on, even getting revenge on the class bully Jeff.

The book’s climax comes when George and Kelly trade places and she gets to portray Charlotte. Her performance is received with applause and accolades. Her mother is still not comfortable with her revelation and is somewhat embarrassed. But the principle’s words of encouragement, “…you can’t control who your children are, but you can certainly support them…” help propel her to accepting that George identifies herself as a girl, as Melissa.

This book is aimed for the middle school group and would be a great addition to a unit on tolerance and acceptance of others.

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS

King, A. S. (2011). The dust of 100 dogs. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.


King reaches out to readers with a unique premise: the reincarnation of a cursed female pirate.  
The meat of the story takes place in the 1980’s and Emer Morrisey is, the afore mentioned cursed pirate is finally human again after having lived across the world as numerous dogs.  She is now Saffron Adams, her memories are intact and she is ready to to dig up her fortune.


The book is told from three point of views.  Emer’s during the 17th century, Saffron’s and eccentric, real estate agent Fred Livingstone.  Although Saffron is Emer their different lives, and times, result in two different characters who although have many similarities are distinct individuals. Both of the girls, are great voices for teenagers- especially girls- who need to be encouraged to speak up for themselves. Livingstone is also a well-crafted character.  He is a sad man whose only true companion is his Doberman, Rusty.  This suspenseful story cleverly manages to draw all these timelines together to give us a fitting conclusion.

MONSTER

Myers, W. D., & Myers, C. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.

This multi-award novel unfolds in the most unconventional way. Myers novel starts with an undated journal entry but he quickly changes the presentation of the story to that of a script. The script is jotted down by Steve Harmon, the 16-year-old protagonist, in a notebook that accompanies him to his cell and to his court hearings.

Harmon faithfully documents his trial and it is through the witness’ testimonies that we learn about the crime that he is accused of participating in. Sporadically the script moves out of the courtroom and jailhouse to flashbacks of Steve’s past. This allows the reader to see a more complete picture of our character and the circumstances that lead him to be on trial for the murder of a respected shop keeper.

One major theme found in the story is that of betrayal. One by one each of the men on trial accuses the others of being the reason for Mr. Nesbitt’s death. There is also the betrayal Steve’s father feels. Mr. Harmon is a hardworking man who tried to set a good example for his son, and instead of respecting this and aiming to be like his father Steve ends up just being another inner city statistic.

In the end Steve is found not guilty, in part because of his film club teacher Mr. Sawicki who the defense uses as a character witness. When asked his opinion of Steve, Sawicki answers, “I think he’s an outstanding young man He is talented, bright and compassionate.”

This would be a great read to share with reluctant readers because it is fast paced and does not drown them into many details. An added bonus would be for the teacher to play the audiobook, because it is fully casted and makes for a compelling reading experience.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN

Nelson, J. (2015). I'll give you the sun. New York: Speak.

This book contains two protagonists, twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine. The book begins when they are 13 and switches between their point of views. At the opening of the book they are as thick as thieves and view the world with bright-eyed optimism. Fast forward three years and things are vastly different. There is barely any communication between the siblings and their lives are not at all what they’d planned.

What has happened is that each blames themselves for their mother’s death. Noah, does so because his mother walks in when he and the next door neighbor Brian are having an intimate moment. Only his sister knows that he is gay, so he is greatly- although wrongfully- ashamed about his sexual orientation. (There is also the fact that no one, most especially a teenager wants a parent to walk in on them and their sexual partner.) The next day he sees his mother cheating on his father. She eventually tells him that she is leaving her husband to be with her lover. While this is happening Jude is having her first sexual encounter, but it is not consensual. She later learns that her mother dies in a car accident at the same time she was “having sex” and she blames herself.

This novel is definitely character driven. In Noah we have a shy and imaginative soul, who even when he does a complete about-face is still fundamentally the same person. Jude transformation is a bit more profound because her lively spirt is broken, but no fear it is still there.

Nelson has penned a brilliant story that captures how difficult it is to be a teenager. She is able to expertly paints the struggle teens have to show the world- and themselves- who they truly are. Both protagonists are artist and she uses this as a way for them to express who they are and what they are feeling.

POISONED APPLES: POEMS FOR YOU, MY PRETTY

Heppermann, C. (2014). Poisoned apples: Poems for you, my pretty. New York: Greenwillow Books.

The fifty poems in this book are a clever spin on the fractured fairy tale genre. Heppermann’s poems address the multitude of issues that modern teenage girls face on a daily basis. The chief issue, being the high ideals of beauty that society expects from them. To highlight this struggle, the poems in the book are paired with surreal black and white photos, some that are borderline eerie.

In the poem, “Life Among the Swans” the ugly duckling laments her transformation. Although surrounded and accepted by fellow beauties she has never felt so alone or hunted. She closes her eyes and imagines hat she is back amongst the reeds and is able to hide from “the hunter’s hounds” who “charge past [her] on their way to prettier game.”

In the poem, “BFF,” she exposes the frenemy subculture that modern girls must navigate. Jill, the narrators BFF is a caring friend that doesn’t want to make her feel bad but lets her know that “Dylan isn’t good enough” for her. Jill is the helpful BFF who “knows a superchic way” to do hairs to that “it will hide” her “ginormous forehead.” Jill is “soooooo glad” to be her BFF because/“Like, who else could put up with you?/Lol.”


Aside from her poems Heppermann also provides an afterword. Here she discusses how fairy tales came to reflect society’s treatment of women. She writes that “in all likelihood” fairy tales originated with women who had to be stealthy with the stories they told. She notes that they “understood that including fantastical elements in their tales- golden eggs, singing harps, talking frogs- worked to mask a deeper purpose.” That deeper purpose she claims was to expose the true state of women’s lives.

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

In this dystopian, fantasy/sci-fi novel the protagonist is a 13-year old boy named Todd Hewitt. His people settled on a planet whose inhabitants struck out against them via biological warfare. As a result, all of the women died off and all that were left were the men and young boys. Todd is the youngest of this society and like everyone else he is doomed to hear the thoughts- “Noise”-of his fellow Prentisstown inhabitants and there “creachers.”

Whilst out on a swamp apple hunt with his faithful dog, Manchee, Todd suddenly comes across an intense silence. He inadvertently projects his encounter and is immediately packed away and sent into the swamp by his guardians, Ben and Cillian. He is immediately pursed by the seemingly unsinkable antagonist and Prentisstown’s pastor, Aaron.


Quite unexpectedly Todd finds himself hearing the profound silence he had come across earlier. He soon discovers that the lack of Noise radiates from a shipwrecked- as in spaceship- girl named Viola. Together they flee from Aaron and soon come across towns with both women and men and Todd’s world is forever thrown off kilter. He learns that there is a horrible secret the men in his hometown are keeping and they will not be stopped in their attempt to get him back.

Todd is a highly developed character and Ness’ detail to language provides a vivid voice the reader can hear in their heads as they follow Todd's journey into the unknown. An added boon is the attention to detail that is given to his and Viola’s relationship. These two characters form a strong bond via their will to survive and their hope for freedom that does not fall into the cliched genre of insta-love.

This book is a compelling and dark page turner that ends in a cliffhanger. Aside from the other books in this series, readers might enjoy reading Neal Shusterman’s Unwind for a similar heart-stimulating read.

PERCY JACKSON'S GREEK HEROES

Riordan, R., & Rocco, J. (2015). Percy Jackson's Greek heroes. White Plains, NY: Disney-Hyperion


This is definitely not Edith Hamilton’s Mythology.  Riordan’s collection of myths is narrated by his demi-god Percy Jackson.  His protagonist sarcastic and witty comments make for fun read.  

The twelve Greek heroes that are featured in this book are Perseus, Psyche, Phaethon, Otrera, Daedalus, Theseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, Cyrene, Orpheus, Hercules, and Jason.  Riordan’s inclusion of female heroes is to be commended.  Percy points out that they were plenty of strong women during this time but due to Greek society they were often overlooked or villainized.  


This is book that would not probably be best used in a traditional classroom setting due to some material that might be deemed questionable by parents. Riordan, however does a stellar job of lightly glossing over the heroes’ sexuality with humor.  For example, in Otera’s story he explains that the Amazon’s had parties and nine months later there were babies.  The implication of sex is there, but 1. it is not explicit and 2. it will go over the heads of most young readers.

Riordan’s heavy use of anachronisms such as reference to cell phones and pop culture icons like JayZ, helps connect millennial readers to these ancient stories.  



Before one thinks that Riordan has published a piece off fluff, it must be noted that although Percy’s irreverent, the core basis of the stories remain untouched.  Riordan’s humor also serves to starkly point out the bad choices, malice and violence that resulted in poor outcomes for the majority of these heroes.   Choices and results that hopefully the reader can avoid in their day-to-day lives.

FANGIRL

Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl: A novel. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.


Three years after its publication this book continues to top the New York Time Bestsellers List and to be selected as an Outstanding Book for Young Adults by YALSA. This is probably due to Rowell’s crisp writing and relatability of her protagonist Cath Avery.

Cath is recent high school graduate who is excited about starting the next chapter of her life with her twin sister, Wren. Wren is the extrovert of the two, and is excited about starting college too, but she is ready to cut the close ties that bind her to her sister. Cath is at a loss when her twin radically changes her appearance and makes sure that she is dormed in a separate building.

The book’s title comes from the Cath’s obsession with fictional characters Simon Snow and Baz Pitch. She and her sister have been obsessed with the characters that can be found in a Harry Potter-esque series. The girls were so obsessed with them that they created fan-fiction about them. Cath began chronicling her story online and surprisingly gathered a huge fan base herself. At the start of the story this is where Cath finds comfort.

Eventually she is forced to live her life and not just make up a fictional one for Simon and Baz. This emergence is partly due to her roommate Reagan who gently bullies her into a friendship and to living a fuller life. A life that includes Levi, the book’s love interest.

Perhaps the books popularity can be attributed to the swoon-worthy romance between the bookish Cath and the considerate yet all too real Levi. In him, Rowell has written a character who is kind and smart, but one that has some questionable moments.

English teachers will find value in this book because there is a strong focus on writing, in particular a focus and the power of finding one’s voice via their writing.

BONE GAP

Ruby, L. (2015). Bone Gap. New York: Balzer Bray.


Laura Ruby spins a story full of magic-realism that can be both mysterious and confusing but in the end leaves the reader satisfied.

The book’s protagonist, "Moonface" Finn O'Sullivan, finds himself lost and isolated amongst a field of familiar strangers. Bone Gap, Illinois has always been his home, but everyone has always kept him at a distance because they feel that he is different than they are. Although no one can pinpoint what separates him from the rest of the populace, they feel that his is something dissimilar to them. This probably stems from his reluctance to look anyone in the eye and how he seems to inhabit his own personal world that doesn’t include them.

The second main character is Sean O'Sullivan; he is Finn’s older brother and guardian. He assumes this role and ignores the possibility of a bright future when their mother abandons them.

Their lives change when they find a beat up Roza in their shed. The Polish girl had traveled to Chicago to study botany but instead ended up getting abused. She is on the run from her abuser and finds it difficult to trust the O’Sullivan brother but eventually she does. And it is just when she starts to blossom like the flowers she loves, she is ripped from their lives.

The people of Bone Gap believe that she left the boys like their mother did, but Finn knows better. He witnessed her abduction but is unable to describe the perpetrator.

The enigmatic Roza is a mystery to the boys. They find her in their shed and it looks like she was beaten up. She doesn't say much to them but from what they can gather is that she is on the run from a man, but who is he? Roza doesn't trust easily, she has learned that men will only use her for her beauty. Slowly she learns that Sean and Finn are trustworthy and she ends up opening up to them. The relationship is something that all can see, "Charlie had no idea who needed whom more- Roza, those boys, those boys, Roza. It all felt fated somehow. "

But just as their friendship blossoms, Roza is torn from their lives. People think she up and left just as suddenly as she appeared, but Finn knows the truth. He saw someone take her from the cornfields, but when he can't describe him, everyone thinks he just made it up.

At its core this story is about the power of love and acceptance.

PERSEPOLIS

Satrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. NY: Pantheon.

This non-fiction graphic novel chronicles the author’s childhood in Iran. It’s striking black and white ink drawings are sure to lure reluctant readers. The novel begins in 1980, a year after the Iran’s “Islamic Revolution.”

The protagonist of the novel is Marjane and her close-knit family- mother, father and grandmother. Marjane is ten-years old at the start of the story and she and her classmates are not taking kindly to having to wear the veil in school. As with most graphic novels, the pictures themselves tell a story with tiny nuances that help explain the story the author is telling.

This is holds true on the first page where on the bottom pane Satrapi has drawn rambunctious girls waving and rough-housing with their veils as opposed to meekly wearing them.

Meek, is not a word that describes Marjane. She is a girl full of conviction, whose family are activists against the new Iranian regime and extreme adherence to Koranic law. Marjane’s family, she learns, are deposed royalty.

Satrapi does not sugar coat her story for readers. She not only mentions the horrific burning of 400 Iranians at the Rex Cinema, she depicts it in a two-page spread. Her unembellished tale, is often intercut with Marjane’s conversations with God, and his eventual silence, when after her uncle’s execution, she banishes him from her life.

Satrapi also chronicles her pre-teen rebellion against her parents. They wish to protect her from the hostile world outside their apartment, but she fights against their attempts to protect her by skipping class, smoking a cigarette and daring to venture the streets wearing a jean jacket and buying contraband music. Eventually her parents decide to send her to the relative safety of France, and the book ends on a cliffhanger when Marjane’s mother collapses in the airport.


This would be a perfect fit for cross-curricular high school teaching. History and English teachers alike would be able to use this book in their classrooms.

GHOST MEDICINE

        Smith, A. (2008). Ghost medicine. New York: Feiwel & Friends.

 16-year old Troy Stotts is the protagonist in this modern Western story.  He and his father have a nearly non-existent relationship due mostly in part to the death of Troy’s mother; the family had already suffered the loss of his brother so it is only the two of them.  Fortunately for the teen he has his horse and his best friends Tom and Gabe. These two are polar opposites yet they balance each other out and help Troy through his grief.  The third person to help Troy through his misery is his crush Luz- who just happens to be Gabe’s sister.

Smith’s story meanders through the summer after Mrs. Stotts’ death.  He takes the time to flesh out his characters and build up the ranch-land environment they exist it.  When not working on Gabe’s father’s ranch the boys spend time camping out and leisurely enjoying each other’s company.  They are far from slothful however.  Aside from the ranch work on Gabe’s ranch they find the time to help out the elderly Rose a.k.a. Goat Woman.  Rose promises each of the boys one of her wild horses, if they can catch one.  Aside from helping her they also take the time to talk with her while they indulge in the not so legal habit of chewing tobacco and the occasional adult beverage.

The story is not without external conflict. The boys are antagonized by the sheriff’s scoundrel of a son Chase, and his friend Jack. Chase’s attempted rape of Luz leads to an escalating bitterness which leads to the death of the book’s antagonist.

Teachers will appreciate the detail Smith puts into his characters and will be able to use it as a springboard with their students to discuss characterization. Due to its heavy themes, the primary audience for this book would be high school students.

LIAR & SPY

Stead, R. (2013). Liar & spy. New York: Yearling.

This Brooklyn set story is middle grade book’s whose protagonist is only child Georges.  After the eighth-grader’s father is father is fired the family downgrades from a house to an apartment.  His mother tries to see the silver lining in this move by saying that at least now his father can pursue his dream of owning his business; Georges is not truly sold on this reasoning especially since he sees his mom working double-shifts at the hospital and most days the only way he is able to communicate with her is through a running Scrabble tile conversation.

Georges’ transition into his new life is helped when he meets his neighbor Safer.  Safer and his sister Candy are home-schooled and their schooling is a direct contrast to Georges’ more traditional one. Safer convinces Georges to join his spy club after the latter’s dad inadvertently sets up their initial meeting.  

The spies focus on the mysterious Mr. X, who lives above Georges family’s apartment.  Mr. X, dresses exclusively in black and is always carrying suitcases in and out of his apartment.  Spying on his “furtive” neighbor serves to help Georges not focus on the bullying he faces at school. The spying, however, soon becomes an obsession for Safer and Georges gradually feels uncomfortable with him and what they are doing.  He must also learn to deal with Safer’s increasingly controlling and manipulative ways.  

The book makes many twists and takes a few unexpected turns but it does not take itself too seriously.  Stead tempers some of the heavier themes with humor.  Her opening lines are a perfect example of this juxtaposition:

"It's Friday afternoon, last period. Gym. Ms. Warner and I have done our Friday high five. We do it every week, because I hate school and she hates work, and we both live for Friday.”

Teachers will find this a valuable book to use in a novel study because it deals with complexities of friendship and the value of loyalty and bravery.  Students will find value in the book because Stead does not hit her readers over the head with these themes.  Instead, her tightly written story (it’s only 180 pages long!) will capture their attention.

RED QUEEN

Aveyard, V. (2015). Red Queen. New York: HarperTeen.

The protagonist of this fantasy novel is seventeen Mare Barrow. In Mare’s world there is a distinct divide amongst the citizenry. People are either red-blooded (Reds) or silver-blooded (Silvers.) The latter group is the ruling class because they have special powers and abilities. The elitist Silvers thus subjugate the Reds to a harsh life and war service.

Mare and her family are Reds and are on the brink of utter poverty. Her father was heavily wounded in war and her older brothers are all on the frontlines. The family gets by on what her sister Gisa makes as a seamstress. Mare contributes what she can via pickpocketing, but she is wary of getting jailed again and she is also worried about the fast approaching date of her military conscription.

She and her best friend Farley meet the leader of the clandestine Scarlet Guard. He agrees to help them escape military service for the price of two thousand Crowns. She plans to obtain this by robbing from the royals during their summer vacation. Unfortunately, the only thing she is able to obtain is a crushed hand when she is caught attempting to pickpocket. When she shares her story with the wealthy Cal, he arranges a job for with the Royals. (Turns our Cal is actually PRINCE Cal and heir to the throne.)

During the Queenstrial- a marriage competition to see who is worthy of the princes, Mare falls and it is discovered that she had latent lightning powers. No one can explain how a Red can have Silver powers so an elaborate story is fabricated, Mare is pledged to Cal’s brother Maven and her brother’s safe return from the frontlines is bartered. She, however, cannot get over her hate for the Silvers and joins the Scarlet Guard. Surprisingly, her betrothed joins her stating but he soon betrays her. He used her to destroy the Guard so that he could become king. The cliffhanger ending finds Mare avowing to kill him.

This book is reminiscent of the Graceling trilogy and would be a good match for high school students with a penchant for swashbuckling adventure and strong female leads.

SIX OF CROWS

Bardugo, L. (2015). Six of crows. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

This novel is a spinoff series from Bardugo’s popular Grisha Trilogy. The six in title refers to the six main characters in this story. Each of the six teenagers has a specialty that will help them pull ogf an incredible heist. There is Kaz, the master thief; Nina, the heartrender aka internal organ decimator; Matthias the ex-holy warrior and convict; Inej the spy; Wylan, the demolitions expert and Jesper, sharpshooter.

The novel supplies a plethora of unexpected plot twists. Bardugo’s story is filled with adventure, romance and treason and flashbacks that allow a reader to really get to know the characters. This is not a light-hearted caper although there is humor in the book. The characters live in a dark world and as a result, they are complex.

The teams first task is to break Matthias out of the well-fortified and guarded Hellgate prison. His assistance is needed in order to break into the infamous Ice Court to abscond with an obscene amount of money. To do so they knock down a tree so that they can switch places with prisoners who are being taken to Ice Court. After being separated they are reunited after several near misses they are able to escape- seemingly without Wylan, who is actually glamoured to look like someone else. Van Eck, the books ultimate antagonist, and Wylan’s father, realizes that it is a ruse and has his henchman grab Inej and the money the group had worked hard to obtain.

The books ends on a bittersweet note. Kaz and the group- sans Inej- visit Pekka Rollins. (Rollins is the book’s other antagonist and owes Kaz a favor for letting him escape at the prison.) Rollins agrees to help and after the group leaves he realizes that they have pickpocketed everything of value of his person.

This book with its darker themes is best suited for high school students with a taste for adventure dense stories.

BROWN GIRL DREAMING

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen books. 

Woodson’s award winning book, is comprised of free verse poems that chronicle her childhood up to the fifth grade.  Although a memoir, the book is classified as fiction because of her sporadic use of dialogue such as in the poem “graffiti”’:

Your tag is you name written with spray paint/ However yo want it wherever you want it to be.//…I press the button down, hear the hiss of pain, watch/J-A-C  begin.//Only know the sound of my uncle’s voice//…asking over and over again//What’s wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?// They’re just words, I whisper/They’re not trying to hurt anybody.

The book opens on her birth day.  She is finally given her name after a heated discussion between her parents. “Name a girl Jack, my father said,/ and she can’t help/ but be strong.” His words do come to fruition because by the end of the novel Jacqueline has become a strong girl with a sense of clarity of who she is:

When there are many worlds/you can choose the one/you walk into each day.//And all the worlds you are-/gather into one word//called You//where You decide//what each world//and each story//and each ending// will finally be.

This clarity, however, is something that does not come easily.  Most of the story takes place in South Carolina, and Jaqueline is witness to the turbulent Civil Rights movement. She is raised almost exclusively by her grandparents after her parents separate and her mother moves to New York to work.  She does not truly feel the loss of her parents because she is so young and because her maternal grandparents, especially her grandfather Gunnar dote on her.  Another obstacle that she must face is dyslexia, which in this era was not recognized as a legitimate learning disability.

Although the book deals with the rampant racism of the 1960’s South, it is her dyslexia that is the true antagonist in this story. This is first seen when instead of writing her full name on the board when asked to do so by her first grade teacher, she chooses to write down her nickname, Jackie instead.  Her learning disability, ironically, is able to fuel her love for the written word.  In the poem, “stevie and me,” Woodson recalls her visits to the local library.  It became a haven because there, no one told her to read faster or harder books; it is here where she discovers picture books “filled with brown people.”  She writes:

If someone had taken/that book out of my hand/said, You’re too old for this/maybe/I’d never have believed/that someone who looked like me/had a story.

This beautifully execute book is intended for 6^th- 8^th grade readers, however I would venture to say that it would be best understood and appreciated by those students in high school.  There are nuances that less mature students will not fully grasp without the guidance of a teacher.