The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hazel is a 16 year old who has been plagued with terminal cancer for most of her life. Despite her mother's hovering care taking Hazel longs to have some sort of stability in life. Hazel's gloomy outlook has earned her forced attendance at a cancer support group. There she meets Augustus Waters and they develop a relationship. Hazel shares her favorite book, Imperial Affairs, with Augustus and they grow closer and closer as they pick it apart and share more time with each other. As Hazel's sickness gets worse, Augustus uses his wish from the Make a Wish Foundation to take the two to Amsterdam to meet the author. Once there the pair make startling discoveries about the author and themselves.
      This book is another amazing novel by John Green (Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherine's, Paper Towns). It is incredibly well written and the characters are both interesting and relatable. This book literally had me bawling my eyes out and laughing simultaneously. This book would be best for high school aged students.This is a link to the book trailer for The Fault in Our Stars

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick, by Joe Shreiber

Despite sleeping in the same house, Perry and the homely exchange student, Gobi barely know each other, or so Perry thinks. Perry's parents insistence that he take Gobi to the prom sends him on a crazy adventure with a completely different person than he thought he knew. Perry experiences a tumultuous night of attempted murders, robberies, and intrigue on the night of prom as well as the night of his bands first major concert. As the night progresses Perry is forced to do things he never thought he was capable of.

      This is a wonderful adventure book that has endearing characters, action, humor, and intrigue. Perry's adventure is both captivating and interesting. His sense of humor provides the right amount of comic relief amidst the bullets flying and the blood spilling. This book is a bit violent and would probably be best for upper junior high students and high school students.
Link to the book trailer for Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick

Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

This is a great young adult book about a girl in high school who has recently been abandoned by her popular friend group. In her loneliness, and through the persistence of the schools guidance counselor, Chole is thrown into helping out the school's failing radio station. Although her interactions with the other students who run the station are initially unpleasant, as they work together to make the radio station successful they slowly but surely become friends and in some cases much more.
      I really enjoyed reading this book, Chloe, although a bit oblivious, is an engaging and fun character. The little romance in it is both sweet and exciting. Chloe's changing relationships with her classmates are both interesting and funny. This book would be best for middle school and high school students.
Introduction to Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by the author .

The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsberg

The View From Saturday is a novel about four sixth graders who were chosen to represent their class in a knowledge bowl. At the beginning of the book the reader finds out that these four students are the first sixth graders to beat an eighth grade team in the history of the school. The novel details their lives leading up to the bowl as well as the strange ways in which the students are connected. It also shifts to their teacher, Mrs. Olinski's point of view. At various points she is asked by people why she chose these for kids and parts of the book are her explanations. The group of students form a club called "The Souls", set in motion by Julian's invitation to all of them for tea at his home. 

     This is a wonderful novel that won the Newberry Award in 1997. What makes it particularly interesting is the shifting points of view from teacher to the various students who are a part of "The Souls". The narrative is both interesting and engaging, the story is set up in a way that is very entertaining. The way this book is written, at some points in the novel you feel like you are solving a mystery. This book is appropriate for middle schoolers or high schoolers. 

The Tombs of Atuan

The  Tombs of Atuan is the second book in the Earthsea Cycle. Set on a remote island ruled by the foreboding Nameless Ones, we find our protagonist Arha. Arha at the young age of six has been dedicated to the service of The Nameless Ones. Although Arha takes her role seriously, she is still a young child who is confused and frightened by the task before her. Arha is the only one on the island who is allowed to move freely about the labyrinths beneath the settlement; there the prisoners of The Nameless Ones are kept to die a slow and painful death. As Arha’s only friend and confidant dies, our hero Ged appears on the island in search of half of a ring that will save Earthsea.

            Tombs of Atuan is a great science fiction fantasy book with rich, detailed descriptions that are frankly down right terrifying at times. Arha is a vivid character who plays the role of  faithful and solemn servant as well as bright eyed child equally well. Le Guin does a fantastic job of tying Ged’s quest into Arha’s struggles. This book would be appropriate for high school students.  

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins has been voted the kid most likely to receive the death penalty in his school. When Bronte starts to show interest in Bruiser, it is no wonder that her twin brother Tennyson doesn’t approve. As the twins become closer to Bruiser, they realize how entangled in his life they will really be, whether they want to or not.  Tennyson soon realizes that Bruiser has the uncanny ability to take on the pain of those he cares about. As Bronte and Tennyson begin to understand this power and see how desperate a situation Bruiser is in with his abusive uncle, they feel compelled to help him.

            This is a great combination of science fiction and contemporary literature. Bruiser, Tennyson, and Bronte have a great dynamic that keeps the dialogue and plot interesting. Shusterman is true to his style of well thought out and compelling characters as well as plot. I really liked this book. This book would be best suited for later middle school to high school. 

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin

A Wizard of Earth Sea by Ursula K. LeGuin  details the struggles of Sparrowhawk, a restless young boy who discovers his uncanny wizarding abilities amidst the poverty he is born into. As news of Sparrowhawk’s power spreads, the wise wizard  Ogin comes to take Sparrowhawk under his wing and help him with his training. There Sparrowhawk learns his new name, Ged, and begins to see the extent of his powers. As Ged develops, he decides to leave the comfort of Ogin’s care to study at the renowned school of wizadry. Once there, Ged in a fit of anger calls forth a spirit from the beyond that begins to stalk him relentlessly. In the following books, Ged struggles to rid himself from the monster, as well as develop his powers.

            This is one of those great books that would probably be categorized under fantastical science fiction. Le Guin creates a world of magic that is based in natural principles and the science of the world the wizards inhabit. The narrative is engaging and lively; Le Guin could certainly be compared to Tolkien in her vivid descriptions of scenery and action. This book is best suited for high school students.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker

Mitch wants nothing else but to write for the school paper. When the new editor assigns him to be the head of the sports section, Mitch, dubbed the Michelin Man because of his weight by his classmates, is anything but thrilled.  Despite his initial hesitancy, Mitch soon becomes wrapped up in sports, as well as in the sports photographer, Kimi. Although Mitch has been directed to focus his writing on Horst Diamond by the football coach, another player, Angel, catches his eye.  Angel has transferred to Mitch’s school and is quickly becoming the star player, but there is an air of mystery surrounding this golden boy, and Mitch is determined to get the bottom of it.

            This is a great sports novel that is also a bit of a mystery. The character Mitch is a great narrator and his struggles will resonate with high school and junior high school students alike. Deuker’s character development is believable and interesting; this is a great book for hesitant boy readers who need a little action to get them hooked. 

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Jack Gantos is preparing himself for a summer of baseball and lounging when he gets in trouble for mowing down his mom’s cornfield and shooting off his dad’s Japanese rifle. Jack, instead of spending time with friends, is commissioned to help his neighbor Ms. Volker , who is crippled by arthritis, write obituaries for the quickly diminishing population of Norvelt.  As more and more originally founders of Norvelt die off, Jack becomes suspicious of the causes.

            This Newbery winner is a delightful tale of a small town and the people in it. Jack’s character is vibrant and funny. His relationship with Ms. Volker is endearing, and the mystery surrounding the town keeps you interested.  The narrative is both humorous and relatable. This book would be great for middle school or high school students. 

Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Winter Girls is the story of Lia and her struggle with anorexia. Lia’s best friend Cassie has just recently died from the effects of her anorexia; this incident throws Lia into a cycle of avoiding food, exercising compulsively, and lying to her parents. The narrative is through Lia’s journal where the reader is privy to her justifications and thoughts about Cassie’s death, as well as her communication with what she assumes is Cassie’s ghost.  As the novel progresses Lia continues to follow Cassie deeper into her disease, with disastrous results.

            Winter Girls is very well written, and I loved the journal format. The characters are well developed and the reader is able to understand where Lia is coming from. This book is very good, but it is incredibly depressing. If you are looking for something light, I suggest you look elsewhere. As you would assume, this book has some content--there are instances of self –harm, drug abuse, and other destructive behaviors. My thought on this is that it makes the book believable and also helps the reader to understand what someone who suffers with anorexia goes through; it is certainly justified.  There is also a fair amount of language in this book. Winter Girls would be great for high school students. 

Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Unwholly by Neal Shusterman is the second book in the Unwind trilogy, Unwholly is a startling book. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view and the insight you get from each of these perspectives provides a depth to this book that makes it unlike many other dystopian novels. The story follows a group of teens who have escaped the fate of being unwound-their organs and limbs removed and donated to save other people. In this society parents have the option to “unwind” their children if they no longer want them. This rag-tag group of kids who have escaped are on a mission to change the laws of their society.

I absolutely loved this book. Specifically the character of Cam resonated with me. Shusterman’s comments on identity and consciousness through this character make it an ideal book for use in the classroom. This book had me on the edge of my seat half the time and in deep thought the other half. For days after I read it I thought about the implications of this novel and how it connected to my life. It is a great dystopian read and appropriate for late middle school to high school readers. Reader be warned, Unwholly has vulgar language as well as a fair amount of violence.