Twilight

Hardwicke, C. (2008). Twilight. Summit Entertainment.

Classification: movie, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: family, fantasy, fiction, friends, identity, love story, scary, series, vampire

Viewer's Annotation: Bella Swan falls for Edward Cullen, a mysterious and possibly dangerous resident of her new home town.

Summary: Bella Swan moves to Forks to live with her dad, and give her mom a chance to bond with her new husband. When she starts school, she encounters the strangely beautiful and aloof Cullen family. Edward Cullen ends up as her lab partner in Biology and he seems oddly repulsed by her presence. At times he's kind to her and at other times he's harsh and distant. Other kids say the Cullens keep to themselves. Yet Bella can't help but seek Edward out. She uncovers the secret of his strange behavior. Far from finding him dangerous, Bella is only more attracted to Edward.

Reviews / Awards:

Entertainment Weekly Review

Author Info:
IMDB page

Potential Hotspots:

violence

Watchalikes:

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
  
• Thirteen
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Any librarian who has tried to keep Stephenie Meyer's books on the shelves will know that this will be a must-have DVD. Though the film was not well received by critics, there were plenty of screaming fans in the theaters on opening night. The movie did so well in it's first weekend that Summit has already decided to start working on the movie version of New Moon.

Other:

Trailer:

Evaluation:

5 stars

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Rosoff, M. (2006). How I Live Now (p. 224). Wendy Lamb Books.

ISBN: 0553376055

Classification:book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects:body image, coming of age, family, fiction, love story, war

Reader's Annotation: Daisy and her cousins are left alone as a war breaks out and brings danger to their peaceful English countryside.

Summary:
Fifteen year old Daisy leaves Manhattan to get away from her father and pregnant stepmother. She goes to the English countryside to live with her mother's sister and the cousins she's never met. In Manhattan, Daisy starved herself to annoy her parents and to feel in control. With her cousins, she feels part of a family in a way she's never experienced. She also falls in love with her cousin Edmund, and he falls in love with her. Then a war breaks out while Daisy's aunt is in Oslo on a peacekeeping mission. The children are left alone to fend for themselves, stuck between two armies and with limited resources. Things only really get bad when the family is separated, and Daisy must somehow manage to protect her young cousin Piper and get her back to the rest of their loved ones.

Reviews / Awards:

Observer Review
How I Live Now is a Printz Award Winner

Author Info:
Meg Rosoff's website

Potential Hotspots:

violence, war, young cousins in a romantic relationship, terrorism

Readalikes:

• the dead and the gone by Susan Beth Pffefer
  
• Madapple by Christina Meldrum
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Some reviewers say this is a good book for readers 12 and up, others label it an "adult crossover." Daisy is at the young end of what older teens would like to see in their protagonists, at 15, but she's a mature 15 on page one of this story. The violence in this story is mainly kept at a distance, but there are a few shocking scenes, more appropriate for older teens. I also think the relationships Daisy has with most of the other characters would be best understood by older teen readers.

Other:

This book trailer, made by student filmmakers, won the 2006 Teen Book Video Award:

Evaluation:

5 stars

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Murdock, C. (2007). Dairy Queen. (p. 288). Graphia.

ISBN: 0618863354

Classification:book, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: coming of age, family, fiction, friends, identity, love story, school, series, sports

Reader's Annotation: Determined to be independent and not to follow the path everyone expects her to follow, fifteen year old D.J. Schwenk tries out for the high school football team -- and she makes it.

Summary: D.J. already had plenty going on in her life. Since her dad hurt his back and her mom took on the principleship at her school in addition to regular teaching duties, D.J. has been the only Schwenk available to run the family's dairy farm. She's not a complainer and no stranger to hard work, but she would like to something unexpected every once in awhile. A family friend, and the coach of the rival football team, offers to get D.J. some help on the farm, in the form of the quarterback from his team. In return, he wants D.J., who has played football with her older brothers for years, to train with Brian and give him pointers. After coaching the rival quarterback all summer, D.J. decides to do the most unexpected thing yet. She tries out for her own high school football team, and makes it.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads Review

Author Info:
Catherine Murdock's Website

Potential Hotspots:

none

Readalikes:

• Deadline by Chris Crutcher
  
• Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This book is a triumph for female athletes, which is something of a rarity in teen literature. Also, D.J. has a work ethic that won't quit, so it's a good choice for those readers who love to read, but feel like they never have time. D.J. is a young protagonist for some older teens, but she bears the weight of so many responsibilities, she feels older than she really is.

Other:

"The Off Season" is the sequel to this book, and it is equally riveting. Catherine Murdock is the sister of Elizabeth Gilbert (of Eat, Pray, Love fame).

Evaluation:

4.5 stars

The Book of Lists for Teens by Sandra and Harry Choron

Choron, S., & Choron, H. (2002). The Book of Lists for Teens. (p. 336). Mariner Books.

ISBN: 0618179070

Classification: book, nonfiction

Genre: nonfiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: current events, family, friends, movie, music, nonfiction, siblings

Reader's Annotation: This book has a list for any subject you can imagine.

Summary: More than 250 lists are arranged into six sections in this book: Me, Myself and I, The World Out There, Relationships, School, Entertainment, and Facts on File. Some lists are just for fun, like "What how you eat and Oreo says about you." Some lists are chock full of good information, like "40 Ways to Simplify Your Life" (#33 is "Get to know the librarian.") Some lists you hope you never have to use, like "7 Ways to Report a Hate Crime." Some lists you might use over and over, like "14 Tips for Public Speaking" or "100 Things to Try When You're Bored." This book has plenty of laughs, plenty of great ideas, and plenty of useful and useless information.

Reviews / Awards:

Reviews from Amazon

Author Info:
Sandra Choron's Houghton Mifflin Page

Potential Hotspots:

none

Readalikes:

• The Teen Quiz Book by Annalee Levine
  
• Life Lists for Teens by Pamela Espelande
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
This is a compulsively easy book to read. It's the sort of thing you pick up thinking you'll read just a few pages, and when you next look up, hours have passed. The lists make this easy going, so it's a good fit for reluctant readers. Also, because of the incredibly wide range of topics covered, there's something in here for every reader to consider.

Other:

--

Evaluation:

4 stars

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Whitcomb, L. (2006). A Certain Slant of Light. (Unabridged, 7 discs). Listening Library.

ISBN: 030728610X

Classification: audio book, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: audiobook, death, family, fantasy, fiction, ghosts, identity, love story

Reader's Annotation: Helen has been a ghost for more than 150 years and though she worries about why she is barred from heaven, she is generally content . . . and then one day she realizes someone can see her.

Summary: Helen is a ghost, and has been for more than a century. Ghosts have to stay close to their human hosts. Helen's current host is a high school English teacher. She chose him because she loves to read and she loves to be in the classroom. Lately, though, her teacher has seemed less "hers" since he got married. One day, in the middle of class, she realizes that one of the students can see her. James is actually a ghost as well though he is inhabiting the body of a teen who is so depressed he spends most of his time in a drugged stupor. James wants Helen to find a human to inhabit and together they choose Jenny. Jenny's parents are overly strict and she is feeling hopeless and overwrought. The two hosts and the two ghosts ultimately end up helping each other and Helen begins to confront the memories of her death.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads Review

Author Info:
Laura Whitcomb's website

Potential Hotspots:

violence, sexual content

Readalikes:

• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
  
• The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection: The hook to this book is the idea of a ghost haunting a high school. That's what will get teens to pick up this book. The kind and fragile nature of the ghosts in this story keep the story compelling, once the novelty of a "haunted" high school wears off. This book is rarely scary, but the ideas are intriguing. Also, with Stephenie Meyer's "The Host" being such a hit, this is a natural follow up.

Other:

--

Evaluation:

4.5 stars

Kin: The Good Neighbors by Holly Black

Black, H. (2008). Kin: The Good Neighbors. (p. 144). Graphix.

ISBN: 0439855624

Classification: graphic novel, fiction

Genre: urban fantasy

Age Level: 10th-12th grade

Subjects: faerie, family, fantasy, urban fantasy, fiction, friends, graphic novel, identity, scary, series

Reader's Annotation: Rue uncovers the secret of her identity when her mother disappears and her father is accused of murder.

Summary: Rue Silver's mother has disappeared, and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing both Rue's mother and another college age girl. As Rue attempts to get to the bottom of these mysteries, she learns that her mother was a faerie. Rue is half-faerie. Her mother has disappeared because of a broken promise and if Rue has any hope of getting her back she'll have to go to the faerie world. She must face her own identity and her true family and deal with a fate darker than she expected.

Reviews / Awards:

Teenreads.com Review

Author Info:
Holly Black's website

Potential Hotspots:

violence, murder

Readalikes:

• Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
  
• Clubbing by Andi Watson and Josh Howard

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Teens who like Urban Fantasy will want to read Holly Black's latest work. Graphic novel fans will also be drawn to the fantastic artwork.

Other:

This is the first graphic novel in a projected trilogy, called "Kin." The second and third installments are due out in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Evaluation:

4 stars

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

Larbalestier, J. (2008). How to Ditch Your Fairy. (p. 320). Bloomsbury USA Children's Books.

ISBN: 1599903016

Classification:book, fiction

Genre: fantasy

Age Level: 9th-10th grade

Subjects: faerie, fantasy, fiction, friends, identity, love story, magic

Reader's Annotation: Charlie desperately wants to trade her parking spot fairy in for a fairy with a more useful talent.

Summary: In New Avalon, most people have invisible fairies that provide them with some handy talent or skill. There are loose change fairies, which help their people find loose change. Her friend has a shopping fairy that helps people find great outfits (that are always on sale!) Charlie hates her fairy. She has a parking fairy. She's 14, she can't drive, but people always want her to ride along, so they get good parking spots. She's trying to drive her fairy away by never riding in cars or buses. She hopes if she can get rid of the parking fairy she'll get a new, better fairy. Avoiding cars is causing her some trouble. She keeps getting demerits for being late. Then, her arch-nemesis Fiorenze, who has a fairy that makes every boy her age fall in love with her, decides to help Charlie ditch her fairy. Why would Fiorenze be an expert? Who could possibly want to rid themselves of such a perfect fairy?

Reviews / Awards:

Teen Ink Review

Author Info:
Justine Larbalestier's website

Potential Hotspots:

none

Readalikes:

• Jinx by Meg Cabot
  
• Uglies books by Scott Westerfeld

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Who hasn't wanted a good-hair-fairy? Also of interest to teens will be the sports school Charlie attends, and the strict rules for everyone in New Avalon. It's interesting to wonder if these rules makes life better for residents or worse. This is mostly a light, fun, read that teens will choose to just relax.

Other:

Justine Larbalestier is Scott Westerfeld's wife....so it's interesting to compare and contrast their novels.

Evaluation:

3.5 stars

The New York Four by Brian Wood

Wood, B. (2008). The New York Four. (p. 167). DC Comics.

ISBN: 9780060846190

Classification: graphic novel, fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Age Level: 9th-12th grade

Subjects: coming of age, family, fiction, friends, graphic novel, identity, love story, series, siblings

Reader's Annotation: Four friends each confront their own problems as they work through their first semester at NYU.

Summary: This story follows four friends as they struggle through their first semester at NYU. Riley Wilder is at the heart of the story, torn between her sister and her parents and more interested in people she knows only virtually than in people she knows in the real world. She does open up and begin to connect with Merissa, Ren and Lona, though she continues to have a relationship via text messages with a man she's never met. Each of the characters has their baggage, and each makes questionable choices. The book sets itself up for a sequel when Riley finally learns who her secret IM boyfriend is and what it will cost for them to be together in the real world.

Reviews / Awards:

Avid Book Reader Review

Author Info:
Brian Wood's website

Potential Hotspots:

drinking

Readalikes:

• Burnout by Rebecca Donner
  
• Clubbing by Andi Watson and Josh Howard

Why it belongs in a YA collection:
Setting the story at a college campus and setting the drama of the story against the backdrop of the first semester make this story appealing for teens. Also, as all four of the main characters are wise and flawed in various ways, readers will be sure to find something familiar in them somewhere. Though the big dramatic ending was a bit predictable, the pathos of it is still appealing.

Other:

Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly have worked together on other graphic novels, such as Local.

Evaluation:

3 stars

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Ishiguro, K. (2005). Never Let Me Go. (Unabridged, 8 discs). Random House Audio.
ISBN: 0739317989

Classification: audio book, fiction

Genre: science fiction

Age Level: 11th-12th grade

Subjects: adult crossover, audiobook, cloning, coming of age, current events, death, distopia, fiction, friends, identity, love story, scifi

Reader's Annotation: Kathy H. is a Carer looking back over her life as a clone raised only to be an eventual organ donor.

Summary: Kathy H. is 31 years old and finishing up her allotted time as a Carer. Knowing that she will soon be called upon to donate organs she needs for survival, she is reviewing her life and her upbringing. As a child, she lived in an exclusive boarding school called Hailsham that was set aside for clones. She had a good education and made many friends. Her entire childhood and teen years, she was well looked after and cared for. She and her friends knew they were all different, and as they grew older they were given to understand what their role in this society was. Kathy and her friends don't question their fate, and Ishiguro's work causes us to question what sort of society could create these sorts of circumstances.

Reviews / Awards:

Slate Review by Margaret Atwood

Author Info:
Kazuo Ishiguro's biography on Contemporary Writers.

Potential Hotspots:

teen sex, cloning, oppression

Readalikes:

• The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
  
• Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
  

Why it belongs in a YA collection: This is a book for teens who like mysteries and for teens who like to wrestle with tough issues. Cloning and stem cells are hot topics in the news and teens can use this book to think about how science can both help and destroy a society.

Other:

I found this story to be very slow paced, which only increased the creepiness when I finally came to understand what was happening in the book. I'm a fast reader, so listening to this one as an audiobook made it even slower, and thus, even more creepy.

Evaluation:

4 stars