Paper Towns

Green, John. Paper Towns. Dutton Books, 305 pages. $17.99 ISBN: 9780525478188

Plot Summary:

Quentin, “Q,” has lived next door to Margo Roth Speigelman his entire life. Though they were childhood friends, they grew apart in high school, until the night in early May when Margo shows up at Q’s window to plead with him to be her getaway driver for the evening. With little information about what exactly they will be doing Q agrees and Margo leads him on an unforgettable and unpredictable adventure.

The next day Margo does not turn up for school. Q does not think anything of it until a detective shows up at his house asking if he knows anything about where Margo has gone. Margo has run away before, but she always leaves vague clues about where she is going for her parents, only this time she has left the clues for Q. The closer Q comes to finding Margo the more convinced he becomes that he never really knew the real Margo at all.

Critical Review:

Papertowns is a complex mystery and moving coming of age tale. Q’s fascination with Margo changes as he follows her clues. The deeper Q digs the more of a mystery Margo becomes. Q learns little about Margo, but a lot about himself, including self confidence and courage. Q’s story is one about the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Genre:

Mystery

Realistic Fiction

Interest/Reading Level:

Grade 9 and up

Similar Books:

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Subjects/Themes:

Missing Persons

Coming of Age

High School

Awards/Honors:

Booklist Best Books for Young Adults 2009

Capitol Choices 2009

Children’s Choice Book Award 2009 Finalist

2009 Edgar Award for best young adult mystery

Kirkus Best Books for Young Adults 2008

School Library Journal Best Books 2008

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults 2009

YALSA Teen’s Top Ten 2009

Author’s Website:

http://johngreenbooks.com/

Annotation:

After leading him on an unforgettable night of adventure Q’s neighbor Margo disappears, but she leaves obscure clues for Q to find in her absence.

Book Talking Ideas:

Q has been in love with his neighbor and childhood friend Margo from afar for years. Margo disappears after an unforgettable midnight adventure, in which Q is Margo’s getaway driver, Margo runs away from home. Before disappearing Margo leaves clues that hint toward her location for Q to find. As Q follows Margot’s clue he discovers the real mystery is not where Margo is, but Margo herself.

Why I Chose this Book:

I ran across this book while browsing Good Reads. It had received good reviews from other users and the plot sounded intriguing.

Paper Covers Rock

Hubbard, Jenny. Paper Covers Rock. 2011. Delacorte Press, 183 pages. $16.99 ISBN: 9780385740555

Plot Summary:

Paper Covers Rock begins after the death of Alex’s best friend Thomas, who drown after drinking. Alex and his friend Glenn, who was also present when Thomas drowned, fear they will be expelled and agree to lie about having also been drinking at the river. Alex is guilt ridden and slowly reveals the truth of what happened that day through his journal entries and vague confession to his young and beautiful English teacher Miss Dovecott. Glenn is concerned that Miss Dovecott’s interest in Alex means that she suspects they were lying about Thomas’s death and pushes Alex to help him sabotage their English teacher. Alex feels torn between his desire to confess not only the truth about Thomas’s death, but also his love for Miss Dovecott and the need to keep his and Glenn’s secret and protect himself from being expelled.

Critical Review:

Paper Covers Rock is a reflective and lyrical work that is told through Alex’s journal entries, essays and poetry. Alex is experiencing several conflicting emotions at once. He is grief stricken and guilty about his friend Thomas’s death and his decision to lie about what happened. He is also experiencing feelings for his English teacher and perhaps misreading her concern his well being as signals of her interest in him. Paper Covers Rock also subtly discusses the issue of being homosexual at an all boys school, what it means to be labeled as gay by classmates and the desire to hide who one really is. Overall, Paper Covers Rock is an elegantly written, emotionally complex novel.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Interest Level/Reading Level:

Grade 9 and up/Grade 6 and up

Similar Books:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Subjects/Themes:

Grief

Death of a friend

Boarding Schools

Homosexuality

Awards/Honors:

Booklist Editor’s Choice, Books for Youth 2011

Horn Book Fanfare 2011

School Library Journal Best of 2011

William C. Morris Award Finalist 2012

Author’s Website:

http://papercoversrock.co/

Annotation:

Paper Covers Rock is a layered and compelling novel about a young man’s grief and guilt over his friend’s drowning.

Book Talking Ideas:

Hubbard’s elegant writing speaks for itself; a great way to promote this book is to read teens one of Alex’s poems from the book. “The Way Boys Read” on page 172 would be a good poem to share, as would “Goldilocks” on page 154.

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose Paper Covers Rock because of its focus on Alex exploring his grief and guilt over his best friend’s death. Paper Covers Rock. Additionally, the twisting storyline and desire to uncover the truth made this a page turning novel.

Potential Challenges:

On potential challenge to Paper Covers Rock is an inappropriate student/teacher relationship, though this relationship never moves beyond one kiss.

The Lover's Dictionary

Levithan, David. The Lover’s Dictionary. 2011. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 211 pages. $18.00 ISBN: 9374193683

Plot Summary:

The Lover’s Dictionary is the story of a relationship told through a series of dictionary entries arranged alphabetically rather than chronologically, letting the reader use their imagination to fill in blanks in the story. Each word serves as inspiration for an anecdote about the relationship. The story looks back at the relationship of a young couple from their meeting through an online dating site and what they discuss on their first date. Levithan describes the main points in the relationship, such as the decision to move in together and also the small seemingly insignificant details, such as his surprise at the size of her shoe collection and she surprise that he didn’t own a full length mirror. Levithan builds up to the event that will test the future of their relationship, feeding the reader details over the course of several entries making this a fast-paced novel that readers will devour.

Critical Review:

Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary, is a story about a real relationship, the good, the bad, and all the ups and downs in between. This is not a story of first love, but the story is till youthful and would be appropriate for older teens. The narrator’s emotions are raw, strong, and very honest, which will be appreciated by teen readers. The narrator’s voice is reflective and entirely relatable. I found The Lover’s Dictionary to be a romantic and remarkably true accounting of a relationship.

This is also a great vocabulary building book and a fun way to expose teens to SAT prep words. Levithan cleverly defines each entry in relation to the couple, such as in his entry for motif:

“motif, n.

You don’t love me as much as I love you. You don’t love me as much as I love you. You don’t love me as much as I love you.”

Teens are bound to learn a few new words while reading this modern romance.

Genre:

Realistic Contemporary Fiction

Romance

Interest Level:

Grade 9 and up

Subjects/Themes:

Dictionaries

Relationships

Awards/Honors:

Alex Award 2012

Booklist Editors’ Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults, 2011

Author’s Website:

http://www.davidlevithan.com/

Annotation:

In The Lover’s Dictionary the story of a young couple’s relationship unfolds in a series of dictionary entries.

Book Talking Ideas:

I love the idea of using this book as a fun way to learn SAT prep words. I recognized many of Levithan’s chosen vocabulary familiar from my SAT prep in high school English. Levithan does not outright define each word, but rather demonstrates the meaning through the associated moment in the relationship. For example the entry for abstain v., the narrator describes his surprise when his girlfriend did not order a drink when they went out the night before. He ponders what her decision to not drink could mean. The clear association with the word abstain is the decision to not partake of something, such as alcohol.

Why I chose to include this book:

I chose to include The Lover’s Dictionary because I thought the writing style sounded original and like something that might appeal to teens. I also considered the fact that Levithan was awarded an 2012 Alex Award for best adult novel for teens. Levithan may be writing for adults in The Lover’s Dictionary, but his youthful voice and experience writing young adult literature, makes this an excellent cross over novel for teens.

Potential Challenges:

The Lover's Dictionary is an adult novel with crossover appeal for teens, but because the intended audience is older the book includes some swearing and references to sex.

Forever...

Blume, Judy. Forever... 1975. Simon Pulse, 192 pages. $8.99 ISBN 9781416934004

Plot Summary:

Katherine and Michael meet the fall of their senior year in high school. The two quickly start spending all their free time together. Soon the couple confesses their love for each other. Kath and Michael begin experimenting sexually, slowing working up to the decision to have intercourse. Both Michael and Kath believe what they have is forever, though their parents thing they are too young to think about forever. Destined to be separated when they attend different colleges in the next fall, the two both wonder if their relationship will survive.

Critical Review:

Judy Blume’s classic novel Forever… is an honest and realist portrayal of first love. Kath and Michael’s blooming relationship reminded me of what it felt like to fall in love the first time, complete with butterflies. Blume’s teens approach their relationship with a high level of maturity. Michael and Kath clearly care for and respect one another and discuss their relationship honestly. One can only hope that teens reading Forever… find guidance from Kath and Michael in conducting their own relationships.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Romance

Interest Level:

Grades 8-12

Similar Books:

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Subjects/Themes:

Relationships

High School

Sexuality

Author’s Website:

http://www.judyblume.com/

Annotation:

Forever… is a poignant story of first love between teens Michael and Katherine.

Book Talking Ideas:

I would recommend this book to teens to enjoy character driven, romantic fiction and stories about realistic relationships. I would also recommend this title for parents who are looking for materials on discussing sex with their teen. This would be a good book for a parent to read as well to help open a discussion about responsible sex choices.

Why I chose to include this book:

I loved Judy Blume as a kid, but I had not read one of her books since middle school. When reading Forever… I was pleased to discover Blume’s writing is just as wonderful as I remembered it and the story is still relatable to today’s teens.

Potential Challenges:

Forever… has been challenged before, so I would not be surprised if some parents disapproved of the title for its frank representation of teenage sexuality.

The Future of Us

Asher, Jay and Mackler, Carolyn. The Future of Us. 2011. Razorbill, 356 pages. $18.99 ISBN: 9781595144911

Plot Summary:

Mackler and Asher’s joint novel The Future of Us, is part historical fiction and part science fiction. The novel is told from the duel perspectives of best friends and neighbors Emma and Josh. Emma and Josh are juniors in high school in 1996 when Emma gets a new computer and logs onto the Internet for the first time. After Emma logs onto AOL she is invited to sign into Facebook. On Facebook she sees a webpage for Emma Nelson-Jones with a photo of a woman who looks eerily like Emma only older. Freaked out, Emma immediately shares the page with her best friend Josh. Soon the two discover that Josh too, has a Facebook page and that somehow Facebook is showing them a glimpse of their lives in 2011, 15 years in the future. While the teens can read their Facebook pages, they are unable to edit the pages, but soon they discover a dangerous game: one small change in the present can change their entire lives in 2011.

Critical Review:

The Future of Us gives the reader a great look at the early days of home Internet use. Today’s teens probably do not remember dial up Internet and the phenomenon of AOL. I was a teen in the late ‘90’s and found this book very nostalgic. The authors do an excellent job setting the scene of the 90’s with descriptions of the technology as it was then and the mentions of popular music of the time. I loved the teens’ initial reaction to Facebook, why on earth would someone post all the intimate details of their lives online. At first Emma thinks she must be famous in the future to have her own webpage, but soon she discovers that several people she knows have Facebook pages.

Genre:

Science fiction

Historical fiction

Interest Level/Reading Level:

Grades 8 and up/Grades 6 and up

Similar Books:

Papertowns by John Green

Subjects/Themes:

The Internet

Facebook

Friendships

Relationships

Author’s Website:

http://www.jayasher.blogspot.com/

http://www.carolynmackler.com/Carolyn-Mackler-Home-Page.asp

Annotation:

In 1996 Emma and Josh log onto Facebook, years before it is created, and are offered a glimpse at their futures in 2011.

Book Talking Ideas:

I would give this book to teens that are interested in computers and the Internet. This would also be a good book for teens who like books that deal with relationships realistically.

Why I chose to include this book:

With Facebook continuing to grow in popularity I thought that this would be a topic that would appeal to teens. Most teens I have talked to are very aware of the public aspect of Facebook and are cautious, but this book might cause teens to think twice about what they post on their Facebook walls.

Anna Dressed in Blood

Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. 2011. Tor Teen, 316 pages. $17.99 ISBN: 9780765328656

Plot Summary:

Cas and his mom have always moved around a lot, first because of his dad’s work and now because of Cas’s. Cas and his father before him is a professional ghost hunter. Every few months Cas and his mother move and Cas starts hunting a new ghost, finally using his athame to kill the ghost, if you can kill something that is already dead that is. Now Cas and his mom are in Thunder Bay, Ontario so Cas can kill Anna, Anna Dressed in Blood, so called because when they found her with her throat slit her white dress was stained red with the blood. Now Anna haunts her old house, ripping to shreds anyone who dares set foot inside.

The first time Cas visits Anna’s house he is with some of the kids from school including Carmel, Will, Chase, and Carmel’s ex, Mike. Mike knocks Cas out with a board and drags him into the house. Anna does something strange though, instead of killing Cas she ignores him and goes for Mike, letting Cas escape. With Thomas’s help Cas escapes Anna’s house, but Cas finds himself drawn back to Anna’s. Anna behaves like no ghost Cas has ever known; never has a restless soul resisted the urge to hurt their victim. Anna, however, is able to fight off the monster within when she is with Cas and the two quickly become friends. Cas knows he has to stop Anna from killing, but the more time he spends with Anna the more he begins to fall for her.

Critical Review:

Generally I do not go in for the horror genre, but Blake smart novel drew me in. Of all the paranormal romances out there right now, Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood, stands out with its fresh and unpredictable plot. Like any horror novel Anna Dressed in Blood has its fair share of violence and bloodshed. This is definitely a book for mature readers as there are references to gruesome murders, sexual abuse, and child abuse besides other general violence. Cas is a thoughtful narrator, but one senses he is also very lonely. That starts to change when he meets Carmel and Thomas. Cas’s recklessness is borderline suicidal at times and one wonders if he is not over confident.

Genre:

Fantasy

Horror

Romance

Interest Level/Reading Level:

Grade 9 and up/Grade 6 and up

Subjects/Themes:

Ghosts

Murder

Witchcraft

Voodoo

Awards/Honors:

Kirkus Best Books for Young Adults 2011

NPR Top 5 Young Adult Novels 2011

2011 Cybil Award Finalist

Author’s Website:

http://kendareblake.com/

Annotation:

Cas Lowood has spent his teenage years moving from place to place hunting ghosts, but that all changes when he moves to Thunder Bay to take on the ghost known as Anna Dressed in Blood.

Book Talking Ideas:

Anna Dressed in Blood is a fast paced horror novel with a romantic twist.

Why I chose to include this book:

I first encountered this book on NPR’s top five young adult novels of 2011 and I was intrigued by the plot. Usually I do not care for horror novels, and though this book does not skimp on the gore, Blake also weaves a complex storyline that kept me reading. I think this book would appeal to teens who want to read a good ghost story and teen who might want something grittier than your typical paranormal romance.

Potential Challenges:

Parents maybe concerned that Anna Dressed in Blood includes some violent scenes of sexual and physical abuse and murder.

The Scorpio Races

Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. Scholastic Press, 2011. 409 pages. $17.99 ISBN: 978054224901

Plot Summary:

Stiefvater’s latest fantasy revolves around her reworked legend of the water horse or the capaill uisce. The capaill are vicious wild carnivorous horses that emerge on the beaches of Thisby Island every October. The men brave or foolish enough try to tame a water horse enough to race in the Scorpio Races on the first of November. The Scorpio Races are unlike any other horse race: the capaill are driven mad by the call of the sea and their blood thirsty nature often leads them to kill the riders or the other capaill.

Sean Kendrick watched his father die in the races nine years earlier, but that has not stopped Sean from racing for the last six years and winning four of those years. Sean’s way with horses is magical, especially the way Corr, Sean’s capaill mount responds to him.

Puck Connolly’s parents were also lost to the capaill uisce; they were taken by the capaill from their fishing boat, leaving Puck and her brothers Finn and Gabe orphans. When Gabe announces that he is leaving to live on the mainland, Puck spontaneously announces that she is planning to race in the Scorpio Races in an effort to get Gabe to stay or at least stay longer. When Puck finds out that they are losing the house she is even more determined to race, even though being the first woman to race and her insistence on racing Dove, a regular horse, raises animosity towards her. Puck’s stubborn refusal to back down and her obvious love for her horse, earns Puck, Sean’s respect and admiration. Puck is drawn to the mysterious and lonesome Sean Kendrick, who seems more at ease with horses than people. Puck is warned against falling for Sean, as men who live to race often do not live very long. Puck comes to know and respect Sean as she learns that Sean live no to race, but for his horse.

Critical Review:

Sean and Puck could not be more suited to each other; both are able to see past each other’s facades and defenses through the way the other cares for their mount and their shared love for the island and tragic histories.

Steifvater’s descriptive language and strong character descriptions transports the reader to the cold barren cliffs of Thisby Island. As she did in Shiver, Stiefvater knows how to create romantic tension between her characters that keeps the reader turning the pages eager to find out how they end up. The Scorpio Races is a more understated romance than Shiver Sean and Puck are both very involved in their own problems, but slowly find each other. Theirs is a budding romance that is just beginning to blossom.

Genre:

Fantasy

Romance

Interest/Reading Level:

Grade 9-12/Grade 6 and up

Similar Books:

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Subjects/Themes:

Horses

Islands

Bravery

Orphans

Racing

Awards/Honors:

Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012

Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2011

NPR Top 5 YA Novels, 2011

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2011

Printz Honor Book 2012

School Library Journal Best Books, 2011

Author’s Website:

http://maggiestiefvater.com/

Annotation:

Love blossoms between Sean and Puck as the two compete in the deadly Scorpio Races.

Book Talking Ideas:

If I were recommending this book to a teen I would emphasize that the story is well written and richly descriptive. This is an original story that will appeal to not only to fans of romantic fantasy, but also to teens who appreciate lyrical prose and adventure stories.

Why I Chose to Include this Book:

I chose to include this book not only because I loved Stiefvater’s descriptive prose in The Scorpio Races, but also based on the excellent reviews it received from SLJ, Booklist, and Kirkus. I also chose to include The Scorpio Races because the title was included on a number of “Best of” lists for 2011.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Lockhart, E. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. 2008. Hyperion, 346 pages. $16.99 ISBN:978-078683818-9

Plot Summary:

The summer between her freshman and sophomore year Frankie Landau-Banks matured into a young woman with a rocking body. Returning to her private school, Alabaster, Frankie immediately catches the eye of popular senior Matthew Livingston. Soon the two are dating, but it does not take long for Frankie to notice that Matthew is constantly underestimating her and blowing her off for his best friend Alpha. She soon discovers the two boys are the leaders of an all male secret society that her father once belonged to called The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. Members were of the elite at the school, often from old money and descendents of past members. Tired of the sexist attitude that persisted under the façade of her formerly all male boarding school, Frankie sets out to infiltrate the Basset Hounds and make some changes at her school.

Critical Review:

Frankie is smart, pretty, and pissed off. She is tired of being excluded and underestimated by Matthew and his friends. You have to admire her brilliance and the underlying social commentary of her schemes. Frankie may be making radical changes at her school, but for the most part the student body does not recognize the social commentary she is trying to make. Frankie, too, does not recognize her main reason in acting out, she wants the attention of her boyfriend and she wants him to recognize her for more than being “adorable.” Frankie spends a lot of time trying to convince herself that Matthew is a good boyfriend, when it is obvious that he is only interested in her when it is convenient for him; he has no interest in her friends, family, or getting to know Frankie more than superficially. Frankie is bold and funny and her brilliance makes her seem older than her 15 years, but really underneath she is still learning about relationships, growing up, and how to stand up for herself. Overall, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a brilliant and humorous coming of age tale.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Humorous Fiction

Interest Level:

Grade 9 and up

Similar Books:

Paper Towns by John Green

Subjects/Themes:

Sexism

Secret Societies

Boarding School

Practical Jokes

Awards/Honors:

National Book Award Finalist

Author’s Website:

http://www.emilylockhart.com/

http://www.theboyfriendlist.com/

Annotation:

Annoyed with the “good old boys” attitude at her private boarding school, Frankie infiltrates a male secret society and turns her school upside down.

Book Talking Ideas:

I would recommend this book for teens who like strong female characters and teens who like witty, character driven novels.

Why I Chose to Include this Book:

I chose to include The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks because loved how Frankie developed as a character in this novel. I could not wait to see what scheme Frankie would come up with next.