Something, Maybe

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publisher: New York: Simon Pulse 2009
ISBN- 978-1-4169-7865-7
pages: 217
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Chick Lit
Topics: Coming of Age, Romance, Contemporary life
Media Type: Book


Grade level: 9-up

Reader's annotation: After spending years trying to be invisible to everyone in school so as to avoid the comments about her parents and their swinging lifestyle, she now wants to be noticed by a certain boy.

Summary: Hannah is a very independent high school student, she has to be since she doesn’t feel she can really count on either of her parents. As the book opens she has, a mother she avoids when possible, an estranged celebrity father, a best girlfriend, two boys in her life, and an after school job taking drive-thru orders at the local burger joint. She works with these two boys, one whom is a friend and she is comfortable with, the other who is her crush and Mr. Mcdreamy. While her girlfriend is giving her advice on the next moves to make to further along a possible relationship, Hannah is dealing with her mother and her job talking to men while scantily dressed. Her mom’s big claim to fame is having been the girlfriend of a Hugh Hefner type person and Hannah is the result of this relationship. Her father is not someone she wants to have anything to do with, but he isn’t used to being told no. Unfortunately for Hannah she isn’t ready to say no strongly enough, but that changes when she is realizes what is really important to her, which helps her to define herself and gives her the courage to do what she really wants to do, not just sit back and watch. The story is somewhat predictable but would be enjoyable for many teen girls.

Evaluation: I found this book to be somewhat empty in the first half, though the second half became more interesting. The conversations and characters seemed to be so shallow they didn’t really hold my interest. The book was a quick read and just as quickly forgotten, the characters not really sticking in my memory. A good book for the beach maybe or for a stress release but not something that you can really sink your teeth into.

How to Build a House

Author: Dana Reinhardt

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books 2008
ISBN-978-0375844539
pages: 240

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Life
Topics: family, romance, divorce, blended families
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 9+

Reader's annotation: Harper, 17-year-old girl “runs away” from her tumultuous life in LA to Tennessee where she participates in a summer teen volunteer program building houses for tornado victims and rebuilds herself in preparation for returning home and her changed life.

Summary: This is two stories told simultaneously - Home: Harper’s life in LA from the day she met her ex-stepmother at the age of 6 until the days before she left for - Here: in Tennessee participating in a summer teen volunteer program building a house for a family whose house was destroyed in the tornado that hit their town shortly after the Katrina disaster. We hear the story of how she grew up with her blended family, her dad , step-mom, two step-sisters and much younger brother. We hear about how her friend since 12, Gabriel, turns into a friend “with benefits” in the last year, though Harper doesn’t actually see what the benefit does for her except confuse her and leave her empty. At the same time we are experiencing her summer life, meeting interesting new people and gaining confidence as she actually builds a house and learns the skills that go along with that. Then there is Teddy, the oldest son of the recipient family who is out there building right along with everyone else. Now Harper sees what real caring and a true boyfriend can be. As the house turns from a pile of rubble and wood into a livable building, so does Harper's life as she rebuilds her own psyche in preparation for returning to LA.

Evaluation: A story of self-discovery, beginning with a lost confused teenage girl struggling with the divorce of her dad and stepmom, loss of her best friend and step-sister, and uncertainty of a boy “friend with benefits”, to a self confident high school senior ready to face life on her terms. This is a very good coming of age story that teens will enjoy. With the variety of characters in the story, every teen is sure to connect with one of them.

On the Jellicoe Road

Author: Melina Marchetta

Publisher: Bolinda Audio Books 2006
ISBN- 978-1740938563
length: 9 hr. 5 min.
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary life
Topics: Coming of age, abandonment, romance, mystery
Media Type: Audiobook, read by Rebecca Macauley

Grade level: 9+

Reader's annotation: This summer brings clarity and belonging as Taylor finally decides that the questions of her past need to be explained . As head of her boarding school house she negotiates their turf with the Cadets and the Townies while finding her past and future place in the world.

Summary: It is the summer before her last year of high school at the boarding school on the Jellicoe Road, where Taylor Markham has been since her mother abandoned her down the road six years ago. We hear her story as she pieces it together, first with memories and then with facts. This story is not linear, we get bits and pieces from the past and present, and some of it really happened, some of it is a dream, and some of it is speculation. The summer turf wars are in full swing with the Cadets at the military camp down the road and the townies, some of whom are connected with the school. All want to claim their share of the clubhouse and river crossings. Taylor is the head of the school group, a tough and angry negotiator. But as the talks continue the friendships start to build until the lines of division are completely blurred. Then Hannah disappears and forces Taylor to look at her past and try to figure out some of the questions she has about where she came from and what happened to her mother. Does Jonah, one of the enemy Cadets, have some answers for her? We listened to the audio version of this, read with an Australian accent which really put you into Taylor’s head. Some of the writing is almost a stream of consciousness. This is a fascinating and confusing book that I think I will have to reread this summer.

Evaluation: Told in first person, this is a very complex book. There is no background information so the story unfolds as Taylor herself figures things out. This makes it challenging reading but the reader becomes so invested in her search for the truth that one will find they can’t put down the book. Excellent coming of age story that shows how we are all flawed but worthwhile people.

About a Boy

Author - book: Nick Hornby
Screenplay: Peter Hodges
Directors: Chris & Paul Weitz

Publisher: Universal City CA: Universal 2002
ISBN-978-0783268644
Rating: PG-13

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Realistic fiction
Media Type: Movie

Grade level: 7-Adult

Reader's annotation: Self-absorbed, cool, playboy bachelor Will lives his life on his own terms. Then Marcus is there, trying to include himself into Will’s life whether he likes it or not. Every man is an island, or is he?

Summary: Independently wealthy Will Lightman lives his self-centered life in units of time. One unit for a haircut, another for dinner, two units for a movie. There is no future plan but to go on this way, no real responsibilities to anyone but himself. He likes the companionship of a girlfriend but as soon as the girl thinks there is some kind of future, he bails out. Then he dates a single mom who breaks it off first! Will now realizes this is his gold mine - single moms who don’t want to commit. But how can he find them? He attends a single parent support group but then realizes they expect him to be a single parent, so he makes up a child. That gets him a date with her friend’s son Marcus in tow. But the date ends with the discovery of Marcus’s mom’s attempted suicide. Marcus liked Will and decided that he better have more people in his life than just his mom, just in case she wasn’t there anymore. Marcus’s tenacity and determination coupled with his charm and openness about the bullying that is going on in school hook Will into caring, even though he tries not to. As the story develops more people come into their circle and before he knows it Will feels responsible.

Evaluation: This is one of my favorite feel good movies. It is funny and heartwarming without being sappy and kids relate to the difficulties Marcus has with his mother and with school. They laugh at his geekiness and enjoy Will's attempts staying independent and failing. The movie has a great soundtrack as well as a very good cast.

Annie on My Mind

Author: Nancy Garden

Publisher: New York: Random House/Listening Library 2008
ISBN-978-0739367452
6 CD’s
Read by Rebecca Lowman
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Romance
Topics: GLBT
Media Type: unabridged audiobook

Grade level: 9th - adult

Reader's annotation: After Liza and Annie discover each other and their love for each other, they discover how love can end up hurting and healing.

Summary: Liza a senior at private school Foster Academy, and lives in Brooklyn Heights with her parents and younger brother. President of the student council, she hopes to get into MIT. Annie lives uptown in the Bronx with her immigrant father and grandmother. She wants go back to CA as soon as she finishes high school, hopefully to UC Berkeley.
But when they meet at the Metropolitan Museum these differences only make them more interested in each other and romance blossoms. By Christmas they have acknowledged their feelings and have exchanged rings. They continue to see each other throughout the winter and into spring getting only so close but keeping their relationship from getting physical. Then over spring break Liza offers to feed the cat belonging to two teachers’ who live nearby while they are gone. Liza and Annie discover they can spend all day there “playing house”, and their relationship goes beyond platonic. When they discover that the teachers are gay themselves this gives both of them strength and validation. However, when judgmental people discover their love, both their lives are turned upside down. Now Liza is at MIT trying to write to Annie and decide if she can get beyond what happened.
Originally written in 1982, it was rereleased in 2007. Audiobook includes an interview with the author discussing what it was like to grow up gay in the ’50’s, what her experiences have been, the process of writing the book, reactions to it and how times have changed, (or not changed).

Evaluation: Somewhat dated now, this gentle love story holds universal truths that will never be outdated. A good portrayal of teenage angst that could be centered around any love story but is sensitively told about two teenage girls in NYC. A beautiful love story told with concern and compassion, we feel their isolation and wish they had more support.

Stargirl

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Publisher: New York: Knopf/Random House 2000
ISBN-978-0679986375
pages: 186
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Topics: friendship, individuality, romance
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 6+

Reader's annotation: He noticed her the first day of school, her long skirt, ukulele and sunflower bag. Stargirl changes Mica High and Leo’s life forever.

Summary: Leo can’t keep his eyes off her when he sees her in the cafeteria and he is terrified she’ll single him out with a birthday serenade. Somehow she seems to know things about people, like when their birthday is. It takes a little bit but eventually the whole school warms to her and is positively affected by her energetic personality. By the winter Stargirl and Leo are inseparable. But then Stargirl goes too far and is shunned by her classmates and eventually Leo wants her to conform as well. Stargirl makes a go of it but finally realizes it isn’t her and so she reverts and Leo can’t handle it. The choice is between the group and being true to oneself. Everyone has to make their own choice and then live with it.

Evaluation: A bittersweet story about first love, conformity, popularity and individuality, the reader roots for Stargirl no matter what happens. A great story for anyone who has felt out of place or wants a different perspective on the same old things in life.

Sequel - Love, Stargirl

Love, Stargirl

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Publisher: New York: Knopf 2007
ISBN- 978-0375813757
pages: 288
Author's website

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Realistic fiction
Topics: diaries, friendship, individuality
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 7-Adult

Reader's annotation: Stargirl writes “the longest letter ever” to Leo as she recounts her life in Pennsylvania with an odd collection of townspeople and kids.

Summary: Stargirl misses Leo and still loves him. She starts a letter to him which turns into her journal for the year. Back to homeschooling she starts a project mapping out the path of the sunrise for a year which we follow throughout the book. In the meantime she hangs out with six-year-old Dootsie and becomes a mentor for grumpy, difficult Alvina and regularly visits agoraphobic Betty Lou and then she meets the mysterious Perry and his harem of girls. Their brief romance only makes her appreciate and miss Leo more but she resolves herself to let things be and know that whatever happens in the future happens.

Evaluation: Although this is a sequel to Stargirl, this is her story and a completely new one. A kind of modern day Pollyanna, Stargirl collects an eccentric group of people around her with whom she feels a certain responsibility for their well-being. Her methods are completely unconventional but that makes it all the more charming.

Sequel to Stargirl

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Based on the book by Ann Brashares
Publisher: Warner Home Video 2008
Rating: PG-13
ASIN: B001ASQ9OM

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Topics: coming of age, romance
Media Type: Movie

Grade level: 9+

Reader's annotation: Four girls miraculously fit into the same pair of jeans which gives them a connection over the summer while they are scattered around the world. Each one has a turn with the jeans and passes along their journal when they send it on to the next friend.

Summary: This is a story about friendship and growing up. Four best friends will be spending their summer in very different places doing very different things. They discover this pair of jeans at a thrift store that fits all of them even though they have different body types and sizes. They decide to each take a turn with the pants and keep a journal that they will send along to the next friend. The pants are sent from Tibby (staying at home) to Bridget (in Baja California, Mexico at Soccer camp) to Carmen (with her father in North Carolina) to Lena (visiting her grandparents in Greece). All the girls learn valuable, different lessons that they share with each other as they take the next steps to becoming independent young women.

Evaluation: This is a fun coming of age story that most girls will really enjoy. The filming is beautiful, especially the scenes in Greece. The acting is very good and the story is very well adapted to film.

Blaze of Silver

Author: K.M. Grant
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers 2007
ISBN- 978-0802797377
pages: 288

Classification: Young Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: horses, Crusades, friendship, adventure
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 7-11


Reader's annotation: The Earl of Heartslove is charged with delivering part of the ransom to free King Richard to the German Emperor when he is double-crossed by his Saracen friend. Can he and Ellie save the King?

Summary: Set in the 12th century, the conclusion of the trilogy, where William de Granville, Earl of Heartslove, ladies Ellie and Marissa and their Saracen friend Kamil discover what loyalty and friendship really mean. Back in England after fighting in the Holy Wars, life at the manor is peaceful and relaxing. Kamil, the Saracen friend who returned from the East with them has settled into manor life as if he was born there. Marissa carries a torch for Will though she knows he doesn’t feel that way about her. Ellie is getting over the death of her fiance, Gavin, who was Will’s brother. They all love their horses and much of life centers on their riding. But someone back in the Holy Land has other plans for Kamil which starts with Ahmal’s delivery of a beautiful horse that King Richard had promised Gavin. The action starts when most of the manor sets off to deliver ransom money to the Emperor of Germany for the release of King Richard. Thinking he is serving his motherland, Kamil is double-crossed by Ahmal, as he is convinced to steal the money, only to discover it is all set up by his old enemy, assassin Old Man of the Mountain. Will Kamil be able to help his imprisoned friends Will and Ellie? Will they be able to save the King? The action-packed story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the twists and turns take you to its conclusion.

Evaluation: Horse lovers will enjoy this series as the main characters’ horses are their companions and much of the story revolves around the animals. Thoughtful issues dealing with revenge, loyalty, and friendship are the themes of this concluding book which makes for a satisfying ending.
Series: Book 3 de Granville Trilogy; Book 1 - Blood Red Horse, Book 2 - Green Jasper

Time travelers wife

Author: Audrey Niffenegger

Publisher: San Francisco CA: MacAdam/Cage Publisher 2002
ISBN-978-1931561464
pages: 560
Author's website

Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Romance
Topics: Time travel
Media Type: Book

Grade level: 10-adult

Reader's annotation: What would it be like if your life was lived out of sequence, that is the fate of Henry as he uncontrollably travels back and forth through time. Sometimes he is an adult visiting his future wife when she is a child, sometimes he is in the future, powerless to change what will be.

Summary: Henry has a problem. He suddenly, without warning or preparation, finds himself, naked, in another time and place. He often finds himself in a field behind his future wife’s home when she is a child. Sometimes he vanishes from his job as a librarian, leaving an empty pile of clothes in the stacks. Somehow, he manages to function in the places he arrives at and covers his actions up from where he left. Throughout it all he manages to have a somewhat normal life that involves falling in love and getting married and having a job. This book is as much about the people and relationships as it is about time travel and the complications of that.

Evaluation: One of the more unusual, interesting and powerful books that I’ve read in a while. One feels their confusion, resignation and love strongly throughout the book. Readers are very invested in the outcome. Teens will enjoy the fantasy, time travel part and will get some insight into a mature relationship.