I've started a Quixotic project for this school year. I'm going to review one YA book a day for every school day. We start school early, so we've already been back a week. I got ahead of my reading this summer, so I should be able to keep up.
I'm doing the reviews on Instagram. I take a selfie with a book covering my face. Then I give a super short review. I'm hoping it turns into a way students at my school can get suggestions for books.
Join me at roscoeteller on Instagram.
Game by Barry Lyga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
OMG, I couldn't put down this 2nd installment from Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers. Jasper and Connie go to New York where murders are taking place and they are mimicking some of Billy Dent's and since he has escaped, Jasper is hoping to catch the killers and his father. But what he doesn't ever suspect is that there seem to be a few killers at work; each taking their instructions via throw away cell phones. When they are both sent home; Connie is forbidden to ever leave town and Jasper is now getting to know his aunt who came to take care of Jasper's grandmother while Jasper was in NY. When Jasper returns to NY; Connie is contacted by text and begins to sort out clues about Jasper's dad. When he finds out alarming information about Jaser's father; she returns to NY without her parents' permission. Things spiral out of control and the ending is crazy and I can't wait til the next book comes out; it is so not fair to have to wait to find out what happens. Read it and you WILL agree with me!!! The same sickening mind games; just when Jasper thinks he has it figured out-----he so doesn't!
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The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cameron Post is a lesbian when her parents die in a car crash and she is sent to live with her born again Christian aunt, Ruth. After being involved in several relationships, her aunt finds out and sends her to “be fixed” at a Christian camp. Cam’s compelling journey brings forth her challenges, her authentic voice, and her resolute resolve that she is who she is. A moving coming of age story.
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Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh what a wonderful read, I am still smiling! Thanks to Mary Eileen for recommending this book and then giving me her ARC. I just loved Park and I grew to understand and love Eleanor. Eleanor is big, awkward with bad clothes and bright red hair. She is the oldest of a very large family. Her mother makes bad choices with men and her latest stepdad is a drunk who beats his wife and when Eleanor expressed her hatred of him, her mother sent Eleanor away for a year to live with her brother and his wife. Now Eleanor and her brothers and sisters all sleep in one bedroom; there is no door on the bathroom and Eleanor doesn’t even own a toothbrush. Park comes from a family that is the opposite of Eleanor’s; always enough food, and love and support. It is Park and Eleanor who slowly, but surely find one another first through comic books, then music, then conversation. None of their relationship and then their romance is easy, but they find each other and hold on. I didn’t want to put this book down; I loved both of their voices and I especially loved how Park protected and fought for Eleanor and how he saved her through his actions and words. I want to read this book over again and again and I don’t ever say that.
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Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thanks to Rory and the Goodreads Group, YA Reads For Teachers (And Any Other Adults) for this MUST read book, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass by Meg Medina. From the first sentence, “Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass” (just like the title) to the last sentence, “And I’ve found my rhythm at last-strong and simple, constant and mine,” I was riveted and sickened by Piddy Sanchez’s plight of being in a new school and being threatened by a bully on the first day. Piddy doesn’t know Yaqui and therefore is clueless about why Yaqui is out to get her. Yaqui has a group of girls who terrorize Piddy at school and at her after school job. Worse to come is the brutal fight when Yaqui and her terrorists surprise Piddy on her way home from school, beat her to a pulp, and film the fight as they tear off her shirt. Piddy never tells her mother what has happened (she tells her mother she fell on the steps) but she does confide in her aunt and makes her swear not to tell anyone. As a result of this fight, Piddy loses herself. She begins to fail her classes, cut school, and her personality begins to change. What will happen to Piddy? This is a book for all high school students; one girl’s life was drastically changed as a result of the continued harassment she endured. I highly recommend it for all readers (plus reluctant readers and those who enjoy urban fiction), teachers, and parents. The author suffered through something similar in junior high and this book reaches out to teens and helps them find their dignity again.
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The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is more middle school but oh is it GOOD! I think my high school boys (and girls) would love Sage's story. Imagine you are an orphan, busy trying to make ends meet and you are purchased away from the orphanage and you are told by this noble, Conner, you will compete with 3 other orphans to impersonate the supposedly dead prince of Carthya who really was not dead? Nielsen's descriptions of Sage, the other orphans, and Conner grip the reader from the first page and you are in Sage's head and heart as this wild ride of a story unfolds. As I read it I was reminded of The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman and I really enjoyed that book too. Sage was so real as an orphan who is prickly, nasty, honest, the best pickpocket, a faker, a thief but he is also compassionate and will do anything to help someone who is being taken advantage of. The events in the book hurtle along and I was quite content to be surprised, happy, then anguished, then filled with horror. Readers will want to read the next book in the series, The Runaway King.
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Drama by Raina Telgemeier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Callie is the set designer in her middle school’s stage production of Moon Over Mississippi and with her can do attitude she will not let budget woes and squabbles between the crew members hold her back. This graphic novel takes the reader into the world of the school play; the fun, long hours and companionship leading up to the school play. A thoroughly enjoyable, funny look at middle school friends, crushes, and everyone “ behind” and “on stage” pulling off plays to entertain and inspire. I loved tis book and even though it is middle school; Callie is in 8th grade; I know my students who enjoy graphic novels will love this book!
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The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Natasha has grown up in America-Five in a world that does not want anyone to suffer. She lives in a sterile, clean environment. There are many different offices in her world and the Office of Mercy is a coveted promotion Natasha enjoys as well as her relationship with Jeffrey who has been her friend since childhood and shown her special attention. But Natasha has always had tentative thoughts about the people outside the walls of America-Five and questions why those people are targets of the nova(s) that will take away their suffering; in other words, kill them. There are others in America- Five who are opposed to putting these tribes out of their misery (they are reviled) and when on a fact finding expedition outside the dome of America-Five, Natasha makes a mistake and is taken hostage by the clan. It is while she is their captive that she learns they think she will help them continue to live “free” and not be vanquished as “suffering” and to make things more difficult, Natasha sees they love their life and are not hungry, suffering, and in need of America-Five’s novas. Natasha is challenged throughout by her beliefs, her feelings, and her empathy towards these settlers; what will this mean for her future and her happiness? I couldn’t put this dystopian novel down.
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Endangered by Eliot Schrefer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
American Sophie is visiting the Congo and her mother's Bonobo preserve when she rescues a terrified baby bonobo from a smuggler. As war breaks out, Sophie and Otto, her bonobo, must battle all kinds of horror (no food and water, child soldiers, AIDs) in order to survive. Schrefer's characters, setting, and the Congo culture are rich in description, superstition, as well as the poverty that crushes the people and animals in an overpopulated, undereducated community. Sophie experiences growth and compassion for her mother, her preserve, and the bonobos who share 98% of our DNA. A must read for animal lovers and world civilization social studies classes.
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Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The classic tale of Cinderella takes a different twist with the protagonist, Cinder, as half robot and human in a world where her evil stepmother makes Cinder work in a mechanic booth at the market to earn money that benefits her stepsister. Will Prince Kai ask her to dance at the formal ball?
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Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jordan Sonneblick has done it again combining humor and heart break as Peter has to say good-bye to his beloved baseball due to a major injury. What he gains freshman year is a cute girl partner who is an ace photographer, his grandfather’s photography equipment, and a prize spot as the yearbook sports photographer. A great read for guys, girls and reluctant readers.
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Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The year is 1865 and counterfeiting is rampant. Master engraver Ben Boyd has been arrested and this affects business in a very bad way. In order to spring Boyd, his buddies hatch a plot to steal Lincoln from his grave, hold his body for ransom and collect $200,000. Will this scheme work? Follow the conspirators, the Secret Service, and an undercover agent while learning about the Lincoln Monument,grave robbing,and the Presidential Election of 1976. This is a must read for junior and senior high school social studies classes. Includes photographs and glossary.
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Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War by Deborah Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have so enjoyed Deborah Ellis' fiction titles but this book really resonated with me. The many children who are now living in Kabul have lost so much; many have no parents, poking through garbage dumps for food or any item to sell. But these kids stories told to Deborah Ellis show resilience, hope and a yearning for a better life that does not consist of war, the Taliban, and fear. I highly recommend this for all junior and senior high school social studies classes.
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Tilt by Ellen Hopkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The young teens in Hopkins’ novel, a companion to Triangles, make decisions for love that alter their lives. In this engrossing novel in verse; teens deal with issues gripping and devastating such as HIV, pregnancy, sexting, and the death of a family member. The book uses profanity and graphic sex in order to drive home the reality that love/sex is harsh and reminds teens to be more deliberate and smart. Fans of Hopkins will LOVE this book
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We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cynthia Levinson's book is just such an awesome read about such a difficult and horrible time during the civil rights movement. Four African American teens' stories are re-told concerning the fateful year of 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama when thousands of children are jailed while marching peacefully for segregation in stores, lunch counters, fitting rooms, and bathrooms. The research is very thorough and riveting; while photographs and side bars show how difficult it was to remain nonviolent with racist police, fire hoses, insults and attack dogs. With the support of their parents, these children marched for their freedom, fairness and self esteem for equal opportunities for future generations of African Americans. This is also a great addition for high school collections as a nonfiction title for Common Core Social Studies; students will be spellbound.
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Zom-B Underground by Darren Shan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
B has really redeemed herself in Zom B Underground. When she wakes up and realizes she is a zombie; B accepts it and really criticizes and berates herself about throwing Tylor to the zombies when he father commanded her. B makes a pact with herself to be a much better person; someone she herself would like since she has such self loathing for killing Tylor. There is a doctor and a guard who interact with B and answer very few of her questions. At some point she is “fed” and given drops for her very dry eyes. She has a hole where her heart was and she becomes a part of the “revitalizeds” or zom-heads who are different from zombies. B is introduced to other teens like her and they hang out, get to know each other, and at some point are placed in a room where they are given their choice of weapons and are then let loose to torture other zombies. When B refuses; her “food” is withheld and the doctor and guards likewise withhold food from her friends. B watches them become more hungry, anxiety-ridden, and undependable. When there is an attack from outside; a weird frightening clown leads and terrorizes with spiders, bugs and torture. B and her friends flee and when cornered in a room realize that one of them is human. B struggles mightily to defend him but the zom-heads smell blood and let loose killing him; all the while B pleads with them that he is their friend.
I enjoyed this second book was so much better than the first; there was internal growth on B’s part; and very little racism and slurs. B becomes a leader who can think for herself and is willing to make and stick with decisions that no one else will. Will this save her? I am looking forward to the third book and more of B!
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Girlchild by Tupelo Hassman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I will admit that this was a very difficult book to wade through; Rory Hendrix’s life in a Reno trailer park with a mother who tries to do her best is disturbing. As we see this awful history through Rory’s eyes, through letters from her grandmother, files from the county social worker, her mother’s arrest records, and memories and lies she learns as she grows up; there definitely will be many troubles and hurt for Rory because we find out early on that comes from a family with a very bad history. This is a story about what it is like to live a dead-end life as trailer park trash; to be smart and live with alcoholics, gamblers, and bad decision makers. Rory is strong and determined like her mother and grandmother; will she break the cycle of abuse, and poverty and make it in a world that seems destined to go nowhere?
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I am interested in learning more about cooperative learning! Suggestions welcome! Thanks!
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A student gave me this book to read and I loved the rich description of the southern town, river,and the many wonderful people who would do anything for little seven year old Annie. Told by Reese, the reader knows he has suffered and shut himself off from almost everyone due to losing his wife, Emma. Emma and Annie both have bad hearts and it is the story of the loss of Emma and meeting Annie that leads Reese to confront his painful past in order to move forward with his future. Martin weaves a story full of deep characters; Charlie who is blind, Georgia, his dog who looks after Charlie and Reese, CeCe is Annie's aunt, and Termite will creep into your heart and have you enjoying their friendship.
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