ArnoldJunior is a 14 year old boy who
Arnold(Junior) is a 14 year old boy who lives in a Spokane Indian Reservation. His whole life has been filled with tragedies and burdens. His family lives in poverty and have problems with alcohol. After an incident at school, a teacher encourages Junior to leave reservation life behind. Junior decides to enroll in an all white school. Unfortunately, troubles follow Junior at his new school and life in his home seem to go from bad to worse. Themes: racism, violence, drugs, alcohol, death, poverty, identity, friendship, love Appropriate ages: 14+ Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true story of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
The summer before her freshman year of high school, Melinda Sordino meets Andy Evans at a party. Melinda calls the police and some people get arrested. She starts high school as a social outcast for calling the police during the party. Nobody knows that Melinda called the police that day because she was raped. As Melinda's slips into a depression, she begins to skip school and withdraws herself even further from her parents. Eventually, word spreads about what really happened, and the students no longer treat Melinda as an outcast. Themes: isolation, violence, friendship, depression, rape Appropriate ages: 14+ Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux
Titus lives in a futuristic time, where science has advanced far enough to allow tourist space travel and the majority of the people have what is called "the feed. " The feed is an advanced form of Internet implanted directly into people's heads. Titus and his friends go on an ordinary trip to the moon. It is their chance to party and have dumb fun during spring break. When a hacker messes with their “feeds” and causes them to malfuntion, they all end up in a hospital and are forced to lie around with nothing inside their heads. Titus then meets Violet, a brainy teen girl who has decided to fight the feed and its ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. What Titus and Violet don’t realize are the consequences of fighting the feed. Themes: authority, power, technology, love, friendship, Appropriate ages: 14+ Anderson, M. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
One thing comes to mind when you hear the name Jeffrey Dahmer—a monster and notorious serial killer, who committed unspeakable crimes. But to Derf Backderf, Jeff was so much more. Jeff was a high school friend. Backderf’s graphic novel conveys the sympathetic portrait of a disturbed young man and how his behavior degenerated from fascination with road kill, torture of animals, high-school alcoholism, and eventually led to mass murder. Backderf does not excuse Dahmer for the atrocities he committed, but rather gives us an insight to the turmoils in Jeff’s life as a young man that led to his downward spiral. Themes: isolation, friendship, empathy, responsibility, alcoholism Appropriate ages: 12+ Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dahmer: A graphic novel. New York: Abrams.
Set in a world full of corruption and greed where anyone can have or do anything for the right price, Kaz gets an opportunity to become rich beyond his wildest dream, but this comes at a high price. Kaz (a thief lord) puts together a “team” of teen criminals and they go on a mission to pull of a deadly, nearly impossible heist. Their mission is to retrieve scientist Bo Yul-Bayur, who is imprisoned and faces death for inventing a drug that illegally intensifies magical abilities. But as fate would have it, things go wrong for Kaz and his team of bandits and now they must escape from the prison they snuck into. Themes: survival, loss, racism, revenge, patriotism, Appropriate ages: 15+ Bardugo, L. (2015). Six of crows. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist for the purpose of keeping vampires there away from people. It is no secret that once you enter a Coldtown, you are not coming back out. Tana awakens from a high school party to find herself surrounded by the corpses of her friends. Vampires had attacked and in the midst of her confusion, she found her ex-boyfriend bitten, but alive and a young, mysterious vampire named Gavriel. Tana decides to take them to the nearest Coldtown, but the trip will not be an easy one. While in Coldtown, Tana learns her sister has come to find her. Tana helps others escape and finds a way to get her sister out of Coldtown, but unfortunately, she gets infected in the process. Gavriel, who she learns is the head vampire, stays by her side as she fights the infection. Themes: revenge, love, rage, guilt, horror Appropriate ages: 15+ Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in Coldtown. New York: Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
This is a biography about Andre the Giant, but written as a graphic novel. Andre the Giant was a larger than life icon who is remembered for his role in the wrestling world and movie role. Brown’s biography is presented through a memoir of Andre’s filmed events, interviews, and records of his life. In the wrestling world, there was no one bigger than Andre the Giant. He stood over 7 feet tall and weighed over 500 pounds. Despite his physical appearance, he was truly a gently giant. He was known for his stature, and ironically, that was also the reason for his untimely death. Appropriate ages: 13+ Brown, B. (2014). Andre the giant: Life and legend. New York: First. Second
Jerry is a freshman the all boys Catholic high school, Trinity. He quickly learns that Trinity is a dangerous place where nonconformity is not tolerated. During the school’s chocolate sale fundraiser, Jerry refuses to sell chocolates. At first, Jerry’s refusal is seen as something heroic by his peers, but Brother Leon and The Vigils, a mob-like student organization, set out to make an example of Jerry for his defiance in not selling chocolates and in an effort to maintain power and authority. The controversial issues include: offensive language, nudity, violence, sexually explicit, and mob mentality. Themes: violence, manipulation, authority, power, ethics Appropriate ages: 14+ Cormier, R. (1974). The chocolate war: A novel. New York: Delacorte
Liz is a student at a private school, lives in an unscale neighborhood, and comes from a rich family. She is expected to attend MIT and become an architect. Annie’s world couldn’t be any more different. She attends a public school, lives in a poor neighborhood, and hopes to be a singer. One rainy day, their paths cross and the two instantly become friends. Over the course of a few months, the girls’ fall in love, but keep their relationship a secret. As fate would have it, an administrator from Liza’s private school discovers the girls together and this leads to a series of unfortunate events. These include the board trying to expel Liza for her sexual preference, firing two gay teachers, and Liza and Annie going their separate ways…at least for a while. Themes: friendship, love, sexuality, Appropriate ages: 13+ Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Doug is an outcast with a mental illness. Andy is a popular football star. Yet, this unlikely pair seem to be best friends who can talk about mostly anything, except about the Tuttle Place. Doug has an obsession with his train set, for which he built a town and elaborate bridge made of matchsticks. Doug’s behavior, including stalking and calling bomb threats, have led others to see him as a troubled youth. Doug stops taking his medications and as a result, is forced to remember the horrific events of that fateful night at the Tuttle Place and how his best friend, Andy, did not survive. Doug must come to terms with the fact that he had forced himself to believe that Andy was still alive and that they still hung out. Themes: mental illness, death, tragedy, friendship Appropriate ages: 15+ Hautman, P. (2005). Invisible. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Unlike most seniors, Glory is not all too excited about graduating high school. Her mother had been a photographer, but had committed suicide when Glory was 4 years old. Glory had no plans for her future and often pondered on whether she would take her own life, just as her mother did. One night. Glory and her friend Ellie mix bat ashes into their drinks and consequently, they both begin having visions of the past, present, and future. Through her visions, Glory is able to see the past and learn more about her mother’s life. Glory has devastating visions of a future where a new tyrant will rise and a civil war will break out. Women and young girls suffer tremendously in Glory’s vision of the future. She decides to begin recording all her visions and what she sees in hopes of saving the people from this horrible future. Themes: suicide, war, identity, friendship, betrayal, depression Appropriate ages: 14+ King, A. (2014). Glory O’Brien’s history of the future. New York: Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
Word of Caution: Brutal, Intense, Dark! This story flashes back and forth between the present(1980 s) and years back when Ry’s father was still on the farm (before his imprisonment). Marvin, Ry’s father, had been extremely abusive, and that led to his eventual imprisonment. Ry’s defense was his three imaginary protectors: Mr. Furrington, Jesus, and Scowler. After Marvin’s imprisonment, the family farm died and Ry wished anything would distract him from his memories of childhood abuse(physical & emotional). Ry(now 19), his mother, and sister are on the farm when a meteorite crashes on the farm and there is an explosion at the prison. Ry and his family learn that Marvin has escaped and is seeking revenge. This news throws back Ry to those childhood days and his protectors “come back” to him. Ry doesn’t want to let Scowler loose, because he knows the brutality that will result, but he sees no choice knowing his father will not stop until he destroys Ry, his mother and his sister. Ry must protect them, at all costs. Themes: family violence, abuse, revenge, trauma, survival Appropriate ages: 18+ (due to content) Kraus, D. (2013). Scowler. New York: Delacorte.
Cadence is a 17 year old girl. She suffered an accident when she was 15 and has suffered from migraines and memory loss, particularly about summer 15. Her family would spend the summer at a private island. Her mother, two aunts, and grandparents each had a house on the island. Cadence, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and Johnny’s friend Gat (also Cadence’s love interest) were known as the Liars. Over summer 15, the Liars got tired of their parents fighting over inheritance and hatched a plan to burn down one of the houses. Things go wrong and the next thing Cadence knew, she was found injured in the water. Cadence spent summer 16 with her father in Europe, but she spends summer 17 back on the island. She notices once of the houses has been rebuilt and is said to be haunted, but she is happy to reunite with her cousins and Gat once again. Over the summer, Cadence’s memories start coming back and eventually she remembers the night they started the fire, and how she was the only one on the first floor when the place went up in flames. Memories of her grandfather’s dogs being trapped surfaced and to her shock, recalls that her cousins and Gat were also trapped and died in the fire. The ghosts moved on and Cadence moved on ready to be a better person. Themes: family, love, power, materialism, Appropriate ages: 15+ Lockhart, E. (2013). We were liars. New York: Delacorte
Seventeen year old Jazz is a charismatic teen with a dark past. His father is in prison for the murders of over 100 people and he did his best to raise Jazz to be a murderer. Jazz just wants to move on and put his past behind him, but everywhere he turns, he gets suspicious looks. Jazz’s best friend, Howie, and girlfriend, Connie, are the people closest to him. All of a sudden, bodies are being found around town once again, and Jazz will do anything to catch the new serial killer and keep his name clear. Jazz uses his “inside knowledge” to try to track down this new killer, but must keep reminding himself he is not a killer, in order to keep his sanity and not become like his father. Themes: murder, identity, violence, brutality Appropriate ages: 15+ Lyga, B. (2012). I hunt killers. New York: Little Brown.
Everyone considers Keir, a high school senior, to be charming, including himself. He enjoys his popularity and indulges himself by drinking and experimenting with drugs. He is able to write off his behavior as just being “mischievous”. He even earned himself the nickname “Killer” because he walked away without consequence from an accident he caused leaving another football crippled on the field. Keir is offended and defends himself when Gigi accuses of him of date-rape. He declares that he loves her and would never do that to her. As Keir tries to clear his name and recounts his senior year, it leads to his realization of the things he actually did, and he comes to grip with the reality that he indeed, did do something inexcusable. Themes: responsibility, rape, relationships, drugs, alcohol Appropriate ages: 14+ Lynch, C. (2005). Inexcusable. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Steve is a sixteen year old accused of being involved in a robbery that left one person dead. There were four people involved: three African Americans (including Steve) and one Latino. Steve accounts for the events in the style of a movie screenplay. Prior to the accusation, Steve enjoyed studying filmmaking and considered himself and amateur filmmaker. Steve gives an account of the trial, the proceedings and how he received a verdict of not-guilty. Months after being found not guilty, Steve continues on his path of filmmaking. Themes: betrayal, deceit, family, justice, violence Appropriate ages: 13+ Myers, W. (1999). Monster. New York: Harper. Collins.
Todd lives in a world where he has been taught that the women were killed by a “germ” and the only men who survived have a side effect known as the “noise”, which allows the men the hear each other’s thoughts. Todd is the only boy left in town, and is nearing the age of becoming a man. Todd’s adoptive parents urge him to escape and he finds a “silence” within the noise. Todd finds a girl, Viola, and together, they travel to Haven, where they believe there is a cure for the noise. On their journey, Todd learns that the truths he had been taught, had all been lies. Themes: betrayal, deceit, gender, society, Appropriate ages: 14+ Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.
This is the diary of seventeen year old Mexican. American Gabi, and her accounts of her senior year. Gabi exposes her unbalanced life. Her mother is strict and her father is not a constant in her life and has a drug problem. She struggles with her weight, image, her first kiss, sexual experiences, and her problem with binge eating. Gabi’s friend Cindy is pregnant (result of a rape) and her other friend Sebastian is homeless after he confesses he is gay. Themes: drugs, sexual preferences, sexual exploration, self image, teen pregnancy, rape, culture, family Appropriate ages: 13+ Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco puntos.
This is the biography of the United States’ most infamous traitor. Sheinkin gives an account of Arnold’s heroics during the American Revolution and actions that led him to be known through history as our country’s most notorious traitor. Journals, notes, and war scenes make this an exciting, detailed account of Arnold’s life. Themes: war, betrayal Appropriate ages: 13+ Sheinkin, S. (2010). The notorious Benedict Arnold. New York: Macmillan.
Austin and his best friend Robby witness a group of bullies steal a vial with a plague, which accidently breaks releasing the toxin. Thus begins the mantis apocalypse. The boys watch as people become infected and “hatch” giant praying mantises. Austin, Robby, and Shann (Austin’s girlfriend) seek refuge in an underground silo, coming out only in the winter to scavenge. Throughout their journey in the apocalypse, Austin is torn between his sexual feelings for Robby and Shann. Themes: violence, sexual references, friendship, sexual preferences, survival Appropriate ages: 16+ Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle. New York: Dutton.
Billy Bloom is a teenage drag queen who hasn't had much experience. When he has to move to Florida, he can't believe his bad luck. No one at his new school has ever seen someone quite like Billy tries to fit in, but only finds himself being harassed and beaten. Billy forges a bond with an unlikely person – the quarterback of the football team. Themes: violence, sexual preferences, friendship, pain, love Appropriate ages: 15+ St. James, S. (2007). Freak show. New York: Dutton.
This story is divided into two parts and is about a friendship formed between Julie (spy) and Maddie(pilot). Maddie flies over France and drops Julie is captured by the Nazis during a mission and is forced to write the wireless codes or endure continued torture. In her writing, Julie writes about her friendship with Maddie, struggles of daily life during the war, and her situation. Sadly, Julie’s life cannot be saved, as she is sent to face a horrific death at an experimentation center. Maddie’s plane crashes in France, but she survives the crash. She is determined to find her friend, Julie, and bring her home. Themes: war, suffering, torture, friendship Appropriate ages: 15+ Wein, E. (2012). Code name Verity. New York Hyperion.
Shawn Mc. Daniel is a 14 -year old kid born with cerebral palsy. Shawn narrates his life throughout the story, expressing everything he thinks and feels; however, he cannot talk, walk, or even voluntarily position his eyes. His family loves him dearly, but his father, Sydney Mc. Daniel, loves him to the point of pondering and performing euthanasia (murder- as Shawn considers it) so Shawn can no longer “suffer”. Themes: euthanasia, suffering Appropriate ages: 13+ Trueman, T. (2001). Stuck in neutral. Harper. Collins Publishers.
Miles is a sixteen year old boy attending a prep school in Alabama. The story revolves around Pudge(Miles), the Colonel(roommate), and Alaska. Miles runs into trouble with the Warriors, a group of rich kids. The Colonel and Alaska set off on a series of pranks against the Warriors. After a night of drinking, Alaska leaves in a hurry and ends up crashing and does not survive the accident. The Colonel and Pudge feel guilty for allowing her to leave drunk. Then Pudge struggles with letting go of Alaska and forgiving her because he thinks that she deliberately crashed. Themes: friendship, alcohol, love, death, forgiveness Appropriate ages: 15+ Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. Dutton Juvenile.
Etta Spencer is a very talented violinist who is debuting at a concert, when suddenly, she found herself aboard a ship, many years in the past. The problem is, Etta didn’t know of her family’s legacy of time traveling and now is being held for her power. The ship’s captain, Nicholas, must travel across time with Etta in search of the astrolobe. Nicholas works for the most powerful family in the colonies. The family believes Etta is the only one who can retrieve the object, and are determined to get the object. Etta and Nicholas set off on their quest, but as they get closer to the truth, the more threats and dangers they encounter. Themes: time travel, love, violence, power Appropriate ages: 14+ Bracken, A. (2016). Passenger. Disney Hyperion.
Athletic Shorts is a combination of six short stories. A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune: An overweight football player finds that his crush has body issues as well. The Pin: Conflicts between a high school wrestler and his father, a former wrestler, result in a match between both. The Other Pin: Petey is set to wrestle with a girl, he befriends her and they hatch a plan to deal with the ridicule they have been facing. Goin’ Fishin’: Lionel deals with hatred towards a friend who is responsible for the death of his parents. Telephone Man: Telephone man is an autistic teen gets help from a friend in an effort to recognize and control his racial slurs and blurts (which he learned from his father). In the Time I Get: Darren is a gay man who is dying of aids and in his loneliness reaches out and befriends Louie. Crutcher, C. (1991). Athletic Shorts. Harper. Collins.
On the island of Thisby, the Scorpio Races are an anticipated event that happens every November. In November, the bloodthirsty water horses emerge from the sea hungry and in search of human flesh. The Scorpio Races are an annual event in which people capture and tame a water horse with the intention of racing them. Sean is the returning champion, but this year, Puck is going to race in an effort to help her family. Puck is this first female to enter the races. Mutt’s jealousy of Sean leads him to attempt to sabotage Sean, but his plan is foiled and Mutt ends up being dragged into the sea and disappears. Puck ends up winning the race, lots of money, and helps Sean buy his horse. Themes: jealousy, love, determination, Appropriate Age: 13+ Stiefvater, M. (2012). The scorpio races. Scholastic, Inc.
Miguel is sentenced to live one year in a group home and write a journal. He gets into fights as soon as he moves into the group home. He meets Mong and Rondell and they plan an escape out of the group home and will head to Mexico. Their journey is a tough one and along the way, Mong drowns, Miguel falls in love with a girl named Flaca but she betrays him, and the two boys left are starving on the streets. Miguel and Rondell come up with a gimmick to make some money in order to pay back the group home for what they stole and eventually go back to face their consequences. Themes: violence, death, culture, justice Appropriate Age: 13+ De la pena, M. (2009). We were here. Random House, Inc.
Jared and Cheryl are second bests at their school. They decide to form a club called the Shadow Club, for students who feel like they are under the shadow of someone is better at something than they are. The shadows start pranking “the unbeatables” in an attempt to embarrass them. The pranks begin getting more and more dangerous and pretty soon, they spin out of control. When a student becomes permanently injured as a result of these pranks, Jared realizes that they must find out who carried that prank out. What results is that all the members of the shadow children have been planning and carrying out their own pranks without letting the others know. Eventually, things get out of hand the shadows decide to end the club. Themes: competitiveness, violence, revenge, self discovery Appropriate Age: 13+ Shusterman, N. (2002). The shadow club. Puffin Books.
Cath and her twin sister, Wren, are college freshman. Wren chooses not to room with Cath and develops a habit of drinking and partying with her new roommate. Cath has an anxiety disorder, and because of this finds it hard to adjust to college life. She is excited about her fiction writing course, so when she bombs a writing assignment, Cath takes it very hard. She is still dealing with emotional issues that stem from her mother’s abandonment, Wren’s need to distance herself from her, and her father’s mental illness and state of mind. Cath finds a romantic connection with her roommate’s boyfriend, but soon finds him with another woman. She is devasted and then learns her father has been committed to a mental hospital. Cath’s world is caving down on her, but she decides that she will not give up and will find a way to deal with her problems. Themes: self discovery, family, isolation, sexual references, alcohol, love Appropriate Age: 15+ Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl. St. Martin’s Press.
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