Tears of A Tiger- Sharon Draper

Shop Indie Bookstores
 
Written in 1994 Tears of A Tiger will still resonate with students now, 15 years later.  This story deals with the aftermath of a drunk driving accident that kills a high school student.  The relationships between friends, children and parents, teachers, and counselors are all discussed through transcripts of discussions, newspaper articles, diary entries, [...]

Jellicoe Road- Melina Marchetta

Shop Indie Bookstores
This Printz winner took me a while to get into. I’d say I was a third, to half of the way into it before I really became intrigued, but then I didn’t put it down.  There are numerous interesting characters whom I loved, but at the same time had some difficulty keeping everything [...]

Kit’s Wilderness- David Almond

Shop Indie Bookstores
Kit’s Wilderness is a novel that is very realistic but includes fantastical elements.  Kit is a 13 year old boy whose family has recently moved back to the town in which is grandfather grew up.  Part of the story revolves around Kit’s grandfather’s declining health and mental state.  I identified with this aspect [...]

How Ya Like Me Now- Brendan Halpin

 Eddie, is a sophomore in high school, who has to move out of the suburbs into Boston when his mom enters rehab.  He has to deal with not only his problems at home, but with entering a new school, and making friends.  His cousin, Alex, is also a central part of this book and provides [...]

Wintergirls- Laurie Halse Anderson (ARC)

  I just finished reading my Advance Reader Copy of Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I LOVED it.  I read it straight through in about three hours.  It centers on an 18 year old high school senior, Lia’s struggle with anorexia, self-injury, and grief.  I found the story to show a very clear picture of the struggles [...]

Looking For Alaska- John Green

I really enjoyed this novel.  It takes place at a boarding school, and while it centers around a male protagonist there is also a strong female character.  I can see it being somewhat controversial due to some sex, drinking, and smoking.  I feel that the way the sexual elements are presented could lead to healthy [...]