In the Land of Women

In the Land of Women. (2007). DVD, Warner Home Video.
ASIN: B000VE4UHO

Classification: movie, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: family, identity, love story, movie

Viewer's Annotation: Carter Webb goes to suburban Michigan to help his grandmother, to write his novel, and to recover from his breakup.

Summary: Carter Webb (played by Adam Brody of "The OC") gets dumped by his famous girlfriend whom he thought would be the love of his life. In an attempt to regroup, and to find a place to write the novel he's been putting off for a decade, he goes to suburban Michigan to care for his grandma who is sure she is dying. He befriends his grandmother's neighbors, Sarah (played by Meg Ryan) who has breast cancer, and her two daughters Lucy (played by Kristen Stewart, who will be Bella in the upcoming Twilight movie) and Paige. All three women have some level of crush on Carter and he certainly has tender feelings for both Sarah and Lucy. The movie is mostly about finding a livable definition of "love," both in the romantic and familial sense.

Reviews / Awards:

Common Sense Media Review

Author Info:
IMDB page

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, smoking, cancer, one fist fight, adultery

Watchalikes:

• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
  
• Juno
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
The stars in this movie will make it a draw to teens. Both Adam Brody from The OC and Kristen Stewart, from Twilight will be names that teens will recognize. Also, the tension between mother and daughter will be a familiar theme to YA readers and viewers.

Other:

Trailer:

Evaluation:

4 stars

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen

Mortenson, G., & Relin, D. O. (2007). Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time. (p. 368). Penguin (Non-Classics).

ISBN: 0143038257

Classification: book, nonfiction

Genre: nonfiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: adult crossover, current events, nonfiction, school, war

Reader's Annotation: Greg Mortensen raises money to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan in an effort to promote peace.

Summary: Greg Mortensen set out to climb K2 to honor the memory of his sister who had died of epilepsy. He didn't make the summit. He became ill and ended up spending seven weeks sick and dejected in a small Pakistani village. When he recovered, he vowed to return to Korphe and build them a school to show his gratitude for their kindness. After a great deal of struggle, Mortensen raised the money, bought supplies and managed (through several small miracles) to get to Korphe. The villagers were excited to see him, but said what they really needed, instead of a school, was a bridge. This is only the first in a series of cultural hurdles that Mortensen and his saviors in Korphe jumped over together. Mortensen and his foundation have since built dozens of schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a particular focus on schools for young girls. By helping develop education in the heart of Taliban territory, Mortensen is spreading a message of peace and goodwill in return for the care he received from the villagers of Korphe.

Reviews / Awards:

NPR review

Author Info:
Greg Mortensen's Webpage

Potential Hotspots:

war, bombings

Readalikes:

• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
  
• The Freedom Writer's Diary by Freedom Writers
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
While this is certainly a book most libraries will have in their adult collection, it is a great title for older teens. The story of one man working for change will likely ring true for teens who want to make a difference in the world. Most high school cirriculum will include discussion of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and this book talks about real people struggling to lead normal lives in the midst of the Taliban. The writing style is easy enough to follow, but it is really the passion for his work that Mortensen displays that will speak to teens, as much as it does to adults.

Other:

Three Cups of Tea Website

Evaluation:

5 stars

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. (p. 320). HarperTeen.

ISBN: 0060850892

Classification:book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: death, family, love story, prejudice, siblings, sports

Reader's Annotation: Ben finds out he has leukemia and about one year to live, so he decides to get a whole lifetime into that last year.

Summary: Ben is 18 when he finds out he has an agressive form of lukemia. As a legal adult he can keep his condition to himself and he insists his doctor keeps the secret as well. He's about to start his senior year of high school and he is determined to pack the year full of life experiences. He tries out for the football team with his brother. He asks Dallas Suzuki, the girl he's had a crush on for years, out on a date. He challenges his government teacher and starts a campaign to get a street in his Idaho town named after Malcom X. He meets a reclusive former minister and child molester who

helps Ben to see that keeping his disease to himself, even for the sake of leading a normal life as long as he can, ultimately is not the answer.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads Review

Author Info:
Chris Crutcher's Website

Potential Hotspots:

prejudice, abuse by parents, drinking, discussion molestation (not graphic)

Readalikes:

• Before I Die by Jenny Downham
  
• Side Effects by Amy Goldman Kloss
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Crutcher always has a lot going on in books. Good family relationships, bad family relationships, true love, sports (always some sports) and teens making it through a tough situation by relying on themselves and someone they trust. There's a message in there somewhere that most any teen can connect with.

Other:
A trailer:

Evaluation:

4 stars

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Doctorow, C. (2008). Little Brother. (p. 384). Tor Teen.

ISBN : 0765319853

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: science fiction

Age Level: 1oth-12th grade

Subjects: current events, distopia, family, friends, love story, prejudice, scifi, war

Reader's Annotation: Marcus gets tangled up with the Department of Homeland Security when he is in the wrong place after a terrorist attack.

Summary: Marcus and his friends cut school to hunt for a clue in an online game on the same day terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge. They are picked up by Homeland Security, held for days, and questioned about their activities. While they are not terrorists they are all capable hackers. They are released but warned they will be watched. Scared and furious that his government would treat him this way, Marcus begins an underground resistance centered around an internet the government can't spy on.

Reviews / Awards:

New York Times Review

Author Info:
Cory Doctorow's Website

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, sex, civil disobedience

Readalikes:

• Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
  
• Feed by MT Anderson
• Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
One reviewer wrote "Too bad about that sex scene. This book should be taught in every Government and Civics class in every high school. The sex scene means teachers won't be able to use it." This is definitely a book that will get people talking, especially in today's PATRIOTAct culture. This is the kind of book libraries were created to carry -- the kind that makes some people nervous.

Other:

I'd guess this will be made into a movie before long.

Evaluation:

4.5 stars

Juno

Reitman, J. (2008). Juno. DVD, 20th Century Fox.
ASIN: B000YABYLA

Classification: movie, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: family, identity, love story, pregnancy, adoption

Viewer's Annotation: Juno is pregnant and decides to give her baby to a couple she picks out of the Pennysaver.

Summary: Juno gets pregnant after having sex with her best friend Paulie. At first she thinks she will get an abortion, but she can't bring herself to do it. So, with the help of a girlfriend, she finds a couple in the Pennysaver who are looking to adopt a baby. This is ultimately more a story about relationships than it is about teen pregnancy. Juno's relationship with her parents, with Paulie, with the couple who will adopt her baby all take on new shape as she goes through her pregnancy.

Reviews / Awards:

Common Sense Media Review

Author Info:
IMDB page

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, sex, teenage pregnancy

Watchalikes:

• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
  
• Waitress
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This film received a great deal of acclaim and teens will likely end up watching it, though they may or may not have been the original intended audience. While certainly the content might not be appropriate for some families, many will warm to Juno's style of decision making and her attitude about turning an unplanned pregnancy into a good thing for another family.

Other:

Plenty of well known actors in this movie will draw viewers in, not to mention a quirky soundtrack.

Evaluation:

5 stars

Geography of Girlhood by Kirsten Smith

Smith, K. (2007). The Geography of Girlhood. (p. 192). Little, Brown Young Readers.
ISBN : 0316017353

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: family, identity, love story, novel in verse, siblings

Reader's Annotation: Penny faces huge challenges in her freshman and sophomore years of high school.

Summary: This novel in verse follows Penny through her 9th and 10th grade years. Her mother has abandoned her, her best friend spirals into depression and must be institutionalized, her older sister is in and out of trouble, and her father remarries and brings home a wife and a stepson. Things are tough for Penny. She makes some good choices and she makes some bad choices, but ultimately survives her last year of middle school and first year of high school. This is an honest look at some of the hardest parts of growing up.

Reviews / Awards:

New York Times Review

Author Info:
Kirsten Smith's Website

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, sex, abandonment

Readalikes:

• What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonia Sonnes
  
• Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Crams more teen angst and issues into 184 pages (especially when you consider they are poems, so per word is even higher) than any other book I can imagine reading. Great as an example of alternative story tell, fantastic for reluctant readers, I think many teen girls will feel like this novel is ripped from their own brains.

Other:

Really great cover art, and I found the poems to be really lovely.

Evaluation:

4 stars

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Green, J. (2006). An Abundance of Katherines. (p. 272). Puffin.

ISBN : 0142412023

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, friends, identity, love story

Reader's Annotation: Child prodigy Colin attempts to write a mathematical formula to explain why he has been dumped by 13 girls named Katherine.

Summary: Always a prodigy, never a genius. This seems to be a problem for Colin Singleton, an anagram loving child prodigy who wants to leave a mark on the world to prove he's attained genius status. Aside from an ability to learn quickly, the most remarkable thing about Colin is that he's dated and been dumped by thirteen girls named Katherine. After his last breakup, his friend Hassan convinces him to take a roadtrip. They leave Chicago and end up in Gutshot, Tennessee, where they stop to visit the grave of the Archduke Ferdinand. Colin decides his work of genius will be a mathematical formula to predict the outcome of any romantic relationship, given specific information about the people involved.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads Review
An Abundance of Katherines and John Green's first book, Looking for Alaska, both were Printz Honor books.

Author Info:
John Green's website

Potential Hotspots:

drinking, sex

Readalikes:

• The Beautiful Miscellaneous by Dominic Smith
  
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This book is great for anyone who's ever felt like they were on the outside of things, and covers three characters who are all trying to figure out how to achieve to their full potential. Or even if they want to achieve to their full potential. It's funny and approachable, and readers should be warned not to be put off by the math.

Other:

Fans of John Green should also check out his "Brotherhood 2.0" website, a collaboration with his brother, Hank, and the Nerdfighters website.

Evaluation:

5 stars

Burnout by Rebecca Donner

Donner, R. (2004). Burnout. (p. 148). Minx.

ISBN : 9781401215378

Classification: graphic novel, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: environment, family, friends, graphic novel, identity, love story

Reader's Annotation: Danni is confused about right and wrong when her new boyfriend commits acts of ecoterrorism.

Summary: Danni and her mother have been drifting from place to place ever since her father left when she was a baby. They end up in a remote logging town on the north Pacific coast, where they move in with Danni's mother's boyfriend and his son. Her mother's boyfriend is often drunk and managing a failing business, but his son Haskell is a mystery. Danni follows Haskell as he sneaks out of the house one night, and discovers he is sabotaging local logging activities. At first Danni is swept up in the adventure of saving the trees and she is quite taken with Haskell. As the story progresses, however, she sees that Haskell's methods are often dangerous and could have a cost in human lives or livelihoods.

Reviews / Awards:

Kirkus Review (as quoted on author's website)

Author Info:
Rebecca Donner's Website

Potential Hotspots:

family violence, ecoterrorism

Readalikes:

• Water Baby by Ross Campbell
  
• The Wild Trees by Richard Preston
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This story ends on a sad, up in the air note, with no real resolution for the characters. While this isn't a "happy" ending, I think it is an honest sort of ending, demonstrating that lots of situations in life don't come with clear black and white answers.

Other:

I enjoyed the art in this story a lot. I had originally hoped to read and review this for my tween database, but decided the content was more appropriate for older teens.

Evaluation:

4 stars

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Hoffman, A. (2004). Green Angel. (p. 128). Scholastic Paperbacks.

ISBN : 0439443857

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 7th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, family, siblings, war

Reader's Annotation: Green is the only member of her family to survive an attack on their city and she must learn to live on her own.

Summary: Green is the only member of her family to survive an attack on the nearby city. Alone, without her parents or her sister, she exists in the house they shared. She ignores her garden, wears leather and combat boots, and gives herself tattoos of ravens, bats, and thorny vines. She calls herself "Ash." Slowly, and with the help of a dog, a hawk, some sparrows, an elderly neighbor and a mute boy, Green grows out of her grief and back into herself.

Reviews / Awards:

Bookpage Review

Author Info:
Alice Hoffman's website

Potential Hotspots:

war, death

Readalikes:

• Deerskin by Robin McKinley
  
• Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This short, beautifully written novel has almost a fairy tale feel to it, but tackles the issues of loss and grief. I think this novel will strike the imagination of older teens, and appeal to any who feel they are alone in the world.

Other:

One of my favorite reads for this class so far. Such a lovely book, with such a redemptive message.

Evaluation:

5 stars

Ironside by Holly Black

Black, H. (2008). Ironside: A Modern Faery's Tale. (p. 336). Simon Pulse.

ISBN : 0689868219

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: urban fantasy

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, urban fantasy, faery, love story, series

Reader's Annotation: Kaye is tricked into asking Roiben to assign her a quest to prove her love and now she must complete the task before he is allowed to speak to her again.

Summary: In this follow up to "Tithe" and "Valiant," the pixie Kaye continues to have trouble balancing her life between the human world and the world of the faerie. As the story opens, her boyfriend Roiben is about to be crowned king of the Unseelie Court. Kaye is goaded into making a "declaration," or stating her desire to be Roiben's consort. According to the law of the fey, he must first assign her a quest, and she may not see or speak to him until she completes it. Roiben, who would prefer she stay safely away from the Unseelie court, challenges her to find a faerie capable of lying, a seemingly impossible task. Roiben is crowned, but that is only the start of his troubles. Silarial, the queen of the Seelie court, wants the Unseelie throne as well and threatens war. Kaye is determined to help Roiben, even though it seems he wants nothing to do with her. She and Corny, and Luis from "Valiant," set out to free Corny from a curse, protect Luis' brother from the faerie, prevent a war, and find the answer to Roiben's quest.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads.com review

Author Info:
Holly Black's Website

Potential Hotspots:

fighting, violence, death, gay relationship, faeries

Readalikes:

• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
  
• The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Holly Black is an author teens will recognize from the children's room. Readers who enjoyed the Spiderwick Chronicles may be ready for something darker and scarier (and more violent.) Ironside is the final book of the collection, so libraries that have Tithe and Valiant would be remiss if lacking this third book. As vampires and werewolf stories become increasingly mainstream, urban fantasy and dark faerie tales seem to be increasing in their appeal as well.

Other:

All three of these books were extremely creative, and a bit disturbing at times. I would suggest them for any reader interested in dark, dark faerie stories.

Evaluation:

3.5 stars

Does my Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Abdel-Fattah, R. (2008). Does My Head Look Big In This? (p. 368). Scholastic Paperbacks.

ISBN: 043992233X

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 8th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, prejudice, identity, friends

Reader's Annotation: Amal decided to wear her hijab whenever she is in public as a demonstration of her faith, but her school friends don't exactly know how to react to her choice.

Summary: While working out on her treadmill and watching a rerun of "Friends," sixteen year old Amal decides she is ready to be a "full-timer," to wear her hijab whenever she's in public or with people outside her family. She makes a list of people she thinks will be fine with the idea and another list of people she suspects will be either uncomfortable or downright hostile about her decision. She sticks with it, though, finding inspiration and understanding in some surprising places. She also begins to understand that faith, identity and prejudice all take many different forms, and that she, too, could stand to learn a few lessons about tolerance.

Reviews / Awards:

Starred review in Booklist

Amazon Reviews

Author Info:
Author Information on Scholastic.com

Potential Hotspots:

family conflict, prejudice

Readalikes:

• An Abundance of Katharines by John Green
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This book covers a huge range of teen identity and self-esteem issues, beyond Amal's decision to wear the hijab, and I imagine almost every reader would find a character in this story that is familiar. This book does an excellent job of explaining why some women wear the hijab.

Other:

Funny, insightful, this book does a great job of explaining the signficance of the hijab, and making it just one of the many issues teenagers deal with before heading out the door to school in the morning.

Evaluation:

4 stars

Jinx by Meg Cabot

Cabot, M. (2007). Jinx. (p. 262). HarperTeen.

ISBN: 0060837640

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 8th-11th grade

Subjects: fiction, magic, love story, family

Reader's Annotation: Jinx moves to New York in an attempt to outrun her notorious bad luck, but instead she finds a cousin determined to force her to use her magic powers for evil purposes.

Summary: Bad luck always seems to follow Jean Honeychurch, so much so that her family and friends call her "Jinx" instead of Jean. She hopes that when she moves from Iowa to New York to live with her aunt's family that she'll get a fresh start. Sadly, the bad luck follows her. Her ultra-hip cousin Tory pegs Jinx as a witch and invites her to join her coven. Jinx knows the story of her great-great-grandmother who supposedly passed supernatural powers to one of her offspring. She'd rather have nothing at all to do with witchcraft as her one previous attempts went disastrously wrong. When Jinx begins to understand how Tory would use magic powers, though, she has no choice but to get involved.

Reviews / Awards:

Common Sense Media Review

Author Info:
Meg Cabot's Website

Potential Hotspots:

witchcraft, attempted suicide, attempted bloodletting, drugs and alcohol

Readalikes:

• A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
• Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Meg Cabot is a YA staple, and this fun story, if not overly thought provoking, does ultimately convey a message to be true to your own talents and abilities.

Other:

A painless read that I would recommend to someone looking for a fun book.

Evaluation:

3 stars

Beastly by Alex Flinn

Flinn, A. (2007). Beastly. (p. 304). HarperTeen.

ISBN:0060874171

Classification:book, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 9th-10th grade

Subjects: fantasy, friends, identity, love story, magic, prejudice

Reader's Annotation: Kyle is cursed by a witch and transformed from a gorgeous high schooler to a hideous beast until he can win true love in his beastly form.

Summary: The Beast starts the story as the gorgeous, has-it-all, neglected Kyle Kingsly. He's mean to the wrong girl though. He's rude to a witch, who turns him into a beast. His father won't see him and sets him up with a kind housekeeper and a blind tutor in a house he's not allowed to leave. He ensnares one of his former classmates, and tries to win her love to break the curse.

Reviews / Awards:

YA, YA, YA's Review

Author Info:
Alex Flinn's Website

Potential Hotspots:

teens treating each other badly, unkind parenting

Readalikes:

• Beauty by Robin McKinley
  
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This modern fairy tale retelling will be familiar in the general plot, which makes it a good choice for reluctant readers. The desire to see the transformation of the overly gorgeous Kyle will also keep teens turning the pages. Mostly though, the humor and romance of the tale will be the selling point for this book.

Other: Alex Flinn is also the author of "Breathing Underwater" an ALA notable book.

Evaluation:

3.5 stars

Secret Life of Bees

Kidd, S. M. (2001). The Secret Life of Bees. (Unabridged, 8 discs) HighBridge.

ISBN: 1565115392

Classification: audio book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: adult crossover, audiobook, coming of age, family, fiction, friends, identity, movie, prejudice

Reader's Annotation: Fourteen year old Lily Owens sets off on a search for information about her mother following the only clues she has to her past.

Summary: Lily Owens isn't sure exactly how her mother died, but she is fairly sure that she killed her. She remembers an argument and a gun going off, but the details are hazy. She was young when it happened. At 14 years old, she's more intrigued about the picture of the Black Madonna with the words "Tiburon, South Carolina" than ever. When her friend Rosaleen gets attacked after registering to vote, Lily decides they should head to Tiburon. The picture leads them to Black Madonna Honey in Tiburon, the home of May, June, and August Boatwright. The Boatwright sisters offer to take Lily and Rosaleen in, but it is the summer of 1964, so there is bound to be trouble for Lily, who is white, while living in a house with four black women.

Reviews / Awards:

Allreaders.com Review

Author Info:
Sue Monk Kidd's Website

Potential Hotspots:

violence, parental violence, racial tensions

Readalikes:

• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  
• Mistik Lake by Martha Brooks
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection: This book has recently been made into a film with several actors teens may know well, such as Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Hudson. After seeing the film they may want to check out the book. Additionally, as the book is set in the 60's, it may be relevant to their studies.

Other:

The audiobook version of this story was quite enjoyable.

Evaluation:

4 stars

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, W. D. (2008). Sunrise Over Fallujah. (p. 304). Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 0439916240

Classification: book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: fiction, war, current events

Reader's Annotation: Robin Perry is serving in Iraq with a Civilian Affairs unit and he learns about the harsh realities of a war that most people thought should have already ended.

Summary: Robin Perry, who becomes known as "Birdy," disobeys his father's wishes and leaves Harlem for the war in Iraq rather than heading to college. The story follows Birdy and the rest of his Civilian Affairs unit through the first half of 2003, when many thought the war would be over quickly. As part of the Civilian Affairs, or CA, Birdy and his unit are supposed to be making connections with the Iraqi people, offering protection and first aid, seeking intelligence, and generally putting a friendly face on the American presence in Iraq. As the story progresses, the unit is involved in more and more combat, and it is increasingly difficult to tell friend from foe, or to imagine a speedy end to the conflict. Birdy writes home to his parents, and to "Uncle Richie," who is the main character in Meyer's award winning novel about Vietnam, "Fallen Angels."

Reviews / Awards:

School Library Journal Review

Author Info:
Walter Dean Myers Website

Potential Hotspots:

fighting, violence, death, attempted rape

Readalikes:

• Tamar by Mal Peet
  
• Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
  
• Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This book is a great way to attempt to understand the war in Iraq. The wide cast of characters presents an array of viewpoints about the situation and will help teens envision the many shades of grey involved in the war.

Other:

A challenging book to read at times, but completely worthwhile. I feel I understand the war better than I used to.

Evaluation:

4 stars