Abuse
Bruiser by Neal Shusterman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.28, 2011, under Abuse, Real life, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? Readers who enjoy confusing books with a bit of romance.
Why? Tennyson and Bronte are brother and sister… Twins! Tennyson is a jock and Bronte is more of a quiet but semi popular girl. When Bronte starts going out with mysterious Brewster, Tennyson freaks out. Brewster has always been the really quiet shy boy that no one talks to. Tennyson realizes that Brewster is a good guy and starts to actually like him for once. Bronte and Brewster have a good relatshionship, but strange, impossible things start to happen ever since Brewster comes into the picture.
The details: 328 pp. 2010 Review by Samantha H.
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.23, 2011, under Abuse, Multicultural Fiction, Real life, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who like books that you can learn from, and books that have unexpected events in them.
Why? North of Beautiful is about a teenager whose Dad has held her back for her whole life. She always thought that she couldn’t go anywhere in life because of her controlling father. She had a birthmark on the right side of her face. She always felt ugly and unwanted. Then one day she unexpectedly met a boy named Jacob who gave her a new perspective on life, and taught her many valuable lessons.
The details: 373 p. 2009 Review by Geneva
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Conner
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.28, 2010, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, ORCA, Real life, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who like to read about real life situations. Also people who like a good story with not a lot of action, but still exciting.
Why? I really liked this book and thought it was a great story. I really liked Addie’s character and felt really bad for her. Her mom is a terrible person, and if I were Addie I would probably tell her to take a hike. This book is about a 12 year old girl named Addie who has moved into a trailer that her former stepfather has provided for her and her mom. Addie has 2 half sisters that still live with her former stepfather Dwight. Dwight and Addie are very close and continue to be throughout the hard times. All Addie wants is Normal, and Normal = her family together. Will Addie ever find Normal? You should read it and find out..
The details: 290 p. 2008 Review by Madisyn B.
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.11, 2010, under Abuse, Real life, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? If you like suspence, mystery and heart-wrenching, gut-churning books, then this is the book for you!
Why? Matthew, Callie and Emmy are all victims of a crazy mother that physically and mentally abuses them. This book shows that no matter what is going on in your life, you always have room for family. Matthew retells the story of his childhood life with deep regret of how long it took everyone to step in and stand up for him and his siblings, and for his mother to do something so big and awful, that they could not be in her care anymore.
The details: 259 p. 2006 Review by Sydney
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.21, 2010, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2010-2011, Mental Health, ORCA, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? This book is perfect for readers who want to read about a young teen who has to figure out how to live with and without her unreliable mother.
Why? Addie, 12, is independent, resourceful, and wants above all to be normal with a normal family. Addie’s life is far from normal because her mom (“Mommers”) is flighty, irresponsible, and prone to disappearing for days. Addie loves her dependable, kind stepdad and her two young stepsisters (“Littles”), but they have moved away and set up Addie and her mom in an ugly trailer in the middle of a vacant lot. Fortunately for Addie, her neighbors who run a gas station/convenience store become her good friends and more of a family than her mom. Addie’s effort to please her mom, her desire to protect her, and her growing awareness of the reality of her situation unfold into a deeply moving story. It would be great to be able to discuss the motivation behind some of her actions. The characters are well-drawn, finding joy in little things and feeling the pain of failure, sickness, and loss. Connor has a keen eye and ear for meaningful details, making this book a good one for anyone interested in writing. Don’t wait to read Waiting for Normal.
This book is a 2011 Battle of the Books selection and a 2011 ORCA nominee.
The details: 290 p. 2008 Review by Samrarian
Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.17, 2010, under Abuse, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Kylie
Who would like this book? I would highly recommend this book to any middle school student. I was hooked by the first paragraph and wanted to keep reading without taking a break.
Why? After you read this book you will have a better understanding of what it’s like to have Tourette Syndrome and you will understand how the character feels having this condition. Tourette Syndrome is a brain disorder that causes a person to have involuntary facial and body movements as well as randomly blurting out words or unusual sounds. In the book Jerk, California, a boy named Sam is living at home with his mom and step dad. When Sam is diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, his step dad is un-accepting of the diagnosis. Sam’s step dad starts treating him differently and abusing Sam and Sam’s mom. Sam runs away to George’s house who was his deceased father’s best friend. When running along a trail Sam meets a girl named Naomi and the two slowly become friends. You have to read it to find out what happens to Sam, Naomi, George, and Sam’s mom.
The details: 327 p. 2008 Submitted by Kylie
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.17, 2010, under Abuse, Mystery, Real life, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? People who like mysteries, bike rides, stories about troubled friendships, and stories about overcoming an overbearing, controlling parent.
Why? In the opening chapter of Shift, readers know that Chris Collins (the narrator of the book), has a significant problem. He and his best friend Win rode their bikes from West Virginia to Washington during the summer, and now Chris is trying to get settled as a freshman at Georgia Tech. The trouble is that his friend Win ditched him at the end of their bike trip and has disappeared. He has not returned home, as Chris expected, and has not shown up for his classes at the prestigious Dartmouth, where his influential father pulled some strings to get him in. Win’s wealthy, powerful father has hired an FBI agent to find out what happened to Win, and Chris is on the top of the list of suspects. How can Chris prove that he is innocent? How can he find out what really happened to Win? The stakes get higher when Win’s dad threatens the financial stability of Chris’s family. Chris pieces the mystery together as the chapters alternate between the cross-country bike trip of the previous summer and the present time at Georgia Tech. The plot drives to a satisfying climax when the past catches up to the present. The relationship between Win and Chris deepens this page-turning mystery. I couldn’t put it down. It’s on the ALA’s list of 2008 Best Book for Young Adults.
The details: 245 p. 2008 Submitted by Samrarian
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.30, 2009, under Abuse, Free Verse, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Girls, ages 12 and above, who are looking for a moving story about an unlikely friendship between a younger teen helping out a single teen-aged mother of two.
Why? LaVaughn, 14 and needing to save money for college, has always gotten a lot of encouragement from her single mom to “hold on.” When she gets a job as a babysitter for 17-year-old Jolly, she finds a different reality. Jolly has lived in a refrigerator box, and the one solid person in her life for a brief time died. Alone with two babies, Jilly and Jeremy, Jolly does not have the skills or the vision to “hold on” and find a better way of life. LaVaughn’s struggles to help Jolly change her situation bring this story straight into the heart. Through friendship with Jolly and love for Jilly and Jeremy, LaVaughn makes things happen. Written in free verse, the voices of LaVaughn, Jolly, and LaVaughn’s mother come through with honesty and authenticity. LaVaughn seems to have very little to her life except school and babysitting. A sequel, True Believer, was published in 2001. The conclusion, This Full House, just came out in 2009, prompting me to return to this first book about LaVaughn. I read it years ago and am impressed with how well it stands up. It makes me look forward to the next two stories about LaVaughn’s high school years. I hope that they create a fuller picture of her life.
The details: 200 p. 1993 Submitted by Samrarian
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.29, 2009, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Biography or Autobigraphy, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Spencer
Who would like this book? People who enjoy a sad story about a little girl growing up in China with unloving parents.
Why? A little girl named Adeline Yen is the child of a women who died a few weeks after Adeline’s birth. She lived with her Grandma, Grandpa, her loving Aunt Baba, her father and all of her siblings. Her father remarries to a 17 year old women who only loves her birth children. Adeline is separated from her aunt and joins many boarding schools. In each school she is one of the smartest children. She is inspired by her grandfather to write a play and submit it to a contest. After a few months of waiting to see if she won, her grandfather died.. and a few months later she won the contest. Her (normally not caring) father is so proud and he allows Adeline to go to medical school (unlike Adeline’s older sister). She grows up to be a doctor and a writer.
The details:205 p. 1999 Submitted by Spencer
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.19, 2009, under Abuse, Art, Multicultural Fiction, Real life, Romance, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Older teens (8th grade and up), especially girls, who are interested in a beautifully written, totally riveting story about a sixteen-year-old girl struggling with beauty, family problems, and a relationship dilemma. If you’re interested in China, art, or geocaching, you will really like this book!
Why? Terra, sixteen and headed for early graduation, is on the run. She wants to get away from her family, her unsatisfying relationship with Erik, and her port-wine birthmark covering her left cheek. She feels responsible to protect her fragile mother from her overly-critical, emotionally abusive father, who has no interest in Terra’s art or her hopes to attend an art college. A minor car accident opens the way for Terra and her mother to meet Norah, a snappy middle-aged woman, and her son Jason, a Goth Chinese teen who cuts through all dishonesty. Subsequent events pave the way for the four of them to travel to China, a place that gives each of them (especially Terra and her mom) new perspectives on themselves. Terra’s experiences open her mind to insights and discoveries about herself, her goals, and what she values. Headley’s description of this process captivated me with striking prose, rich characterizations, and intriguing details that move the plot forward. For instance, both Terra’s collages (her main art medium) and Jacob’s geocaching are fascinating in their own right, but they are also integral to the plot. For a deep read about important issues, live in this book for awhile.
The details: 373 p. 2009 Submitted by Samala
