Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Review by Shaylee

Who would like this book? It’s kind of a mature book. I would recommend this book mostly for teens.

The goods on the book: Conner, Tony, and Vanessa are three teens in a Psych ward. They are all recovering: Conner from trying to shoot himself, Tony from drugs and alcohol, Vanessa from cutting herself to deep. They all get to know each other and become good friends. Tony and Vanessa become more than friends. At the end of this book, there is a tragic twist. This book would be good for anyone that is interested in books about struggle and how to overcome it. Impulse is one of my favorite books.

The details: 666 pp. 2007   Review by Shaylee

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Who would like this book? Readers, 5^th grade and up, who like entertaining and moving stories told from 1^st person and especially fans of historical fiction from the 1960s would like this book.

Why?  It’s the summer of 1962, and 11-year-old Franny Chapman is dealing with a lot. She has major family problems since her mentally unbalanced uncle lives with her family that also includes a sensitive little brother, an independent older sister, a high-strung mother, and a father who is away most of the time on Air Force business. She also has major problems with friends since her best friend Margie has decided to move up to other, more popular friends. On top of these problems, the Soviet Union has just installed missiles in Cuba, threatening the United States with nuclear attack. As President Kennedy and Krushchev stare each other down, Franny must practice “duck and cover” as she tries to duck trouble but somehow always finds trouble. She tells her story in an authentic voice that brings the daily life of this period alive, and the result is a story that is entertaining, informative, and so moving that it made me cry. The addition of vintage photographs, news items, speeches, song lyrics, and advertisements complements Franny’s story, giving a fuller sense of the time.

The details: 377 pp. 2010   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grade 7 and up, interested in innovative 1^st person narratives and/or books dealing with mental illness and real life issues.

Why? Jason, 15, is barely holding on. His mother has recently died from a stroke and his mentally ill (and talented) father cannot cope without her. His father is descending into his hallucinations, so Jason must try to keep their household running while dodging the authorities who might try to split them up. Jason, a loner, finds companionship with voices in his head – Crazy Glue, Sexy Lady, Aunt Bee, and a laugh track. When a school counselor forces Jason to join group therapy, his life begins to take a turn. The other students who become his friends and the other characters who become his support system bring much to the story – understanding, humor, and respect. Han Nolan has pulled off an amazing feat with this book. The unusual narrative structure works really well, and Jason’s story is important and moving.

The details: 348 pp. 2010  Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Anyone grades 6 and up who likes historical fiction and/or stories that focus on siblings, in this case a brother and his older sister with autism.

Why? Moose Flanagan, 12 years old in 1935, narrates the story of what happens when his family moves to Alcatraz Island so that his father can work as an electrician and prison guard. Things do not go well for Moose on Alcatraz, where about 50 families live. Moose’s mother is obsessed with the plight of his autistic sister Natalie. His mother believes that Natalie will have a chance in life if only she can attend the Esther P. Marinoff School in San Francisco. When the first attempt to enroll Natalie in the school fails, Moose must help out with Natalie, which causes him to miss playing baseball and to lose his new friend. In addition, the daughter of the prison warden, manipulative and irresistible, seems bent on getting him into trouble. Moose’s story brings Alcatraz to life, with historically accurate references to Al Capone and his mother, the prison warden, the activities of daily life, and the pursuits of kids on the island. Many engaging minor characters move the story forward with humor and personality quirks. What makes this book really worthwhile is the relationship between Moose and Natalie. It made me cry at the end!

228 pp. 2004  Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? People, grades 8 and up, who like rock climbing and/or edgy romances and/or stories about runaways.

Why? P.K.’s parents have decided to send her to boarding school, so she makes plans to run away to do some challenging climbs. Critter’s parents had him committed to a mental institution after he attempts suicide and gains a spiritual perspective on living. He escapes from the institution and crosses paths with P.K in her climbing gym just as her friends decline to go with her on her climbing escapade. Critter, of course, agrees to go with her and the plot takes off from there. P.K. and Critter trade off as narrators, allowing the reader to get to know each of them intimately. The complexity of their struggles and the intensity of their climbing adventures as runaways combine for a thought-provoking adventure that I couldn’t put down.

The details: 272 pp. 2010   Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers who enjoy real-life drama. This book has mature content.

Why? This book is about a 16 year old girl named Kristina. After 8 years of not seeing her father, she visits him in New Mexico. Her dad is a druggie and has no goals in his life. One day when Kristina goes outside she meets a boy named Adam, but his friends call him Buddy. She and Adam start to have a relatshionship together and he introduces her to crystal meth (crank). When Kristina goes back home to Reno, she finds ways to get crank and her life becomes a nightmare. You will be amazed about how drugs could ruin someone’s life. This book is written in free verse. I liked this book a lot and I couldn’t stop reading it.

The details: 537 p. 2004  Review by Sam H.

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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

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Who would like this book? Football fans or readers interested in real-life high school situations and the demands of friendship.

Why? Marcus, new to town and desperate to be a part of the high school’s winning football team, spends his summer days practicing alone in a park. One day, an athletic, exuberant, middle-aged man named Charlie joins Marcus and the two begin regular intense, highly physical practice sessions. Marcus wonders why Charlie insists on calling him “Mac,” why he shows up at random times, and why he takes anything he wants from stores and walks away without paying. As Marcus settles into the high school routine, earning a place on the football team and the attentions of the head cheerleader, he clashes repeatedly with the team’s quarterback, Troy Popovich. Korman weaves the stories of Marcus (“Mac”), Charlie, Troy, and their families into a riveting climax that uses the game of football to convey the love of family, the honor of friendship, the power of fear, and the dignity of self-worth. This book surprised me. I never dreamed that a book about football would keep me up late into the night, but Pop did exactly that. I couldn’t put it down until I found out how it ended, and then I thought a lot about the ending and the characters. It’s a worthwhile read.

The details: 272 p. 2009     Submitted by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grade 8 and up, interested in Asperger’s Syndrome, music, law firms, or justice, OR are looking for a great story told from a unique point of view.

Why? Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old on the high end of the autism spectrum, comes of age in this insightful, moving novel by Francisco S. Stork. Stork’s first person narration provides a clear window into Marcelo’s character; readers share in his thinking process, his unique observations, his intense struggles, and his marvelous range of reactions to people and events in the “real world.” The book starts with Marcelo’s excitement about his perfect summer jub caring for the ponies at his beloved private school. Then, his father, a high-powered attorney, demands that Marcelo work at his law firm for the summer so that he can experience the “real world.” The people that Marcelo meets at the law firm and the disturbing, difficult situations that he encounters form a riveting, moving story that kept me turning pages well into the night and brought me to tears at the end.
(Be aware that Marcelo’s narration does not censor the ugly, sexist comments of Wendell, the son of his father’s law partner.)

312 p. 2009  Review by Samrarian;
My longer review of this book for the Register-Guard is available in the library.

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Who would like this book? Both fans of graphic novels and students interested in the lives of quirky, artistic, intelligent kids on the “outside” of the in-crowd.

Why? This graphic novel starts out with a bang, literally. Jane is walking past a café in Metro City when a bomb goes off, sending her to the hospital along with a mysterious young man who does not regain consciousness. Jane’s parents decide to move to the safe suburb of Kent Waters, and Jane is bored and depressed over her new not-life at Buz Aldrin High School. She is drawn to three girls, all social misfits and each with a “Jane” name. At first they are withdrawn, but Jane hits on a creative, edgy plan to bring them to life. The result is PLAIN – People Loving Art in Neighborhoods – and a spurt of unique “art attacks.” Jane’s spunky efforts to work through the trauma of the bombing and to ignite creative thought in the complacent suburb are inspiring. The story gains focus through her letters to John Doe, the mysterious young man back at the hospital in Metro City. The graphic novel format is an excellent match for the plot and characters, and Rugg’s drawings are superb. It’s great to have a graphic novel as a YRCA nominee (2010) and as a selection for the 2009-2010 Battle of the Books.

The details: 176 p. 2007             Review by Samrarian
A Battle of the Books selection for 2009-2010 and a 2010 YRCA nominee

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